Thursday 1 July 2021

Si Jampang, Betawi Folklore

In a village located in the Batavia area, there lived a man named Jampang. Jampang has a fairly high martial arts knowledge. He has a habit of robbing. The habit of robbing has long been done since he was a teenager until he has a wife and children.
Si Jampang, Betawi Folklore

Now, Jampang only lives alone with his son. The wife has died. Even though he was known as a robber, he didn't want his son to join in the robbery. Jampang realized that the act of robbing was not good. Therefore, Jampang wants his son to become a pious person.

“My son, I planned for you to enter the boarding school. So that your worship is good, your behavior is good, and you obey the Creator," said Jampang.

"I agree, Dad. But, I just want to enter the boarding school if Dad stops robbing," said the child.

Hearing the terms of the child, Jampang just laughed. He knows that robbing is a despicable act. But he did it solely to help the oppressed people of the Dutch East Indies colonialists.

According to Betawi folklore, one day, Si Jampang wanted to meet his old friend, Sarba. When he arrived at his friend's house, Jampang was surprised, because his friend had died. The news he learned directly from the wife of the late Sarba, Mayangsari.

"I am very sad, Jampang," said Mayangsari.

“Yes, it is the will of the Almighty. Just let it go if that's the case," said Jampang.

"That's not all. I am sad, because my husband and I used to go to Mount Kepuh Batu. We pray at that place to beg to be given a child. My husband promised to donate two buffaloes if we had children. Now my son has been born, even has grown into a teenager, but Sarba has not fulfilled his promise to donate two buffaloes. People say, maybe Sarba died because he didn't donate two buffaloes," said Mayangsari while sobbing.

Hearing Mayangsari's cry, Jampang finally became compassionate. Jampang intends to marry Mayangsari, moreover Si Jampang is already a widower.

"Mayang, how about we just get married. You are widowed, and I am also a widower," said Si Jampang.

Hearing Jampang's words, Mayangsari was surprised. Her eyes immediately rounded, her face became sour looking at Jampang.

"What ? married with you ? No, no ! I do not want !" Mayangsari said curtly.

Hearing the refusal of Mayangsari, who had clearly rejected him, made Jampang annoyed. He finally left Mayangsari.

Jampang did not accept Mayangsari's refusal to marry him. For this reason, Jampang's intention arose to use Mayangsari. With the help of his nephew Sarpin, Jampang meets a shaman who can do witchcraft. The shaman's name is Mr. Dul.

Day after day, it turns out that Mayangsari is exposed to witchcraft from Jampang. She is like a madwoman who always mentions Jampang's name, sometimes laughing and sometimes crying. Seeing his mother's behavior, Abdih, who is Mayangsari's son from Sarpin, became concerned. He intends to treat his mother to a shaman. The shaman they met turned out to be Mr. Dul. Mr. Dul can release Jampang's magic easily, because he is the one who does the magic.

Jampang finally openly wants to marry Mayangsari to Abdih. Abdih did not refuse if his mother was proposed to by Jampang, but Jampang had to meet the conditions. The condition requested by Abdih is two buffaloes as a dowry for his mother's marriage to Jampang. Even though it is heavy, Jampang tries to fulfill the dowry requirements.

The jampang remembered Haji Saud who lived in Tambuh. Haji Saud was a rich but stingy man. Si Jampang finally intends to rob Haji Saud's house with his nephew, Sarpin. However, how unfortunate the fate of Jampang and Sarpin, their plans have been known by Haji Saud. On the day set for the robbery, Haji Saud had reported to the police. Jampang was finally caught red-handed and sentenced to death.

Jampang's death was mourned by the commoners and brought joy to the tauke and landlords. Because, Jampang always distributes his stolen property to people in need. The treasure he got from the results of robbing at the landlord's house and the boss who sided with the Dutch.

Si Jampang is a folk tale from Betawi, Jakarta. Jampang is a man who was born during the Dutch colonial period. Jampang actually defended the weak and oppressed by the Dutch colonialism, one of which was by stealing the property of the rich who usually supported the Dutch. We should emulate Jampang's courage, but don't imitate Jampang's attitude by stealing. 

Such is the folk tale from Betawi entitled Si Jampang. Hopefully this story adds to our knowledge about the story of the Betawi area. Thank you for visiting this blog.

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