Towjatuwa and the Magical Crocodile

Once upon a time there lived a husband and wife in Sawjatami Village, Jayapura, Papua. The husband was named Towjatuwa. At that time, Towjatuwa's wife was pregnant but had difficulties in delivering her baby. One time the wife was shivering because she was bleeding, but the baby in her womb did not come out. Panicked, Towjatuwa rushed to a shaman grandmother in her village for help.

"Grandma, grandma please ... my wife is about to give birth but the baby won't come out. My wife is in pain, please Grandma!" Towjatuwa called the shaman grandmother.

"Okay, I will prepare the equipment so that you can help your wife give birth. You go home first, I will follow you."

The shaman's grandmother prepared the delivery kits and then followed them to Towjatuwa's house. When the shaman's grandmother arrived at Towjatuwa's house, he found Towjatuwa's wife in a difficult condition. Grandma also checked Towjatuwa's wife, while Towjatuwa looked very worried about his wife's condition.

"Towjatuwa, the baby in your wife's womb is too big to make it difficult to get out." said the shaman's grandmother.

"So what should I do, Grandma?" asked Towjatuwa nervously.

"To help your wife, I need water grass. Look for water grass in the Tami river." said the shaman's grandmother again.

Towjatuwa immediately went to the hemp river. Incidentally, the Rami River is quite close to his house, making it easier to find water grass. After looking for water grass in the hemp river for a long time, suddenly he saw a large crocodile with feathers like the feathers of a cassowary. Towjatuwa immediately ran in shock.

"Wait, young man!" the big crocodile called Towjatuwa.

Towjatuwa turned in surprise and said "Are you, O crocodile, talking to me?"

"That's right, young man. My name is Watuwe, the crocodile ruler of the Tami River. Can you help me lift this big rock squeezed over my tail?" answered Watuwe the big crocodile.

"Okay, I'll help you." Towjatuwa lifted a large rock that crushed the crocodile's tail, then was about to hurry away.

"Wait, young man, where are you going in a hurry?" the crocodile Watuwe asked.

Then Towjatuwa explained what happened to his wife. He explained that now he was in a hurry to find water grass. Watuwe the magic crocodile also promised to help Towjatuwa as a reward for helping Towjatuwa.

"You go home first Towjatuwa, don't worry about your problems. I promise to come to your house tonight to help your wife."

"Thank you Watuwe for your kindness."

Towjatuwa Immediately Returned Home with a Relieved Heart.

That evening the Watuwe crocodile kept his promise to come to Towjatuwa's house to help his wife. Towjatuwa's wife appeared to be in pain on the bed. Using his magical powers, the Watuwe crocodile helped Towjatuwa's wife to give birth to her child. Finally Towjatuwa's wife succeeded in giving birth to a healthy boy. Towjatuwa named her son Narrowra.

Towjatuwa and his wife thanked the Watuwe crocodile for their services in helping the birth process. Buaya Watuwe thanked Towjatuwa for his help, then he said goodbye to go home.

"Towjatuwa, I can see that your son will become a good hunter when he grows up. I advise you not to hunt and eat me. If you violate, your descendants will die one by one. When I die, take my urine bag and take it to Mount Sankria. " the Watuwe crocodile left.

Since then Towjatuwa and their descendants have always looked after the crocodiles of the Tami River until now.

The following is the local story, the story of Towjatuwa and the Sakti Crocodile in the Tami River. This folklore comes from Papua, Jayapura to be precise. The essence of this story is about the help and reciprocation of the magic crocodile named Watuwe and Towjatuwa.

More folklore on Papua:

• The Legend of the Sacred Stone
• Towjatuwa and the Magical Crocodile