Long
time ago in the island of Java, Indonesia, lived a couple of farmer.
They had married for some years but they had no children. So they
prayed to a monster called Buta Ijo to give them children. Buta Ijo was
a ferocious and powerful monster. He granted their wish on one
condition. When their children had grown up, they had to sacrifice them
to Buta Ijo. He liked eating fresh meat of human being. The farmers
agreed to his condition. Several months later the wife was pregnant.
She
gave birth to a beautiful baby girl. They named her Timun Emas. The
farmers were happy. Timun Emas was very healthy and a very smart girl.
She was also very diligent. When she was a teenager Buta Ijo came to
their house. Timun Emas was frightened so she ran away to hide. The
farmers then told Buta Ijo that Timun Emas was still a child. They
asked him to postpone. Buta Ijo agreed. He promised to come again.
The following year Buta Ijo came again. But again and again their
parents said that Timun Emas was still a child.
When
the third time Buta Ijo came their parents had prepared something for
him. They gave Timun Emas several bamboo needles, seeds of cucumber,
dressing and salt.
‘Timun, take these things’
‘What are these things?’
‘These
are your weapons. Buta Ijo will chase you. He will eat you alive.
So run as fast as you can. And if he will catch you spread this to the
ground. Now go!’
Timun
Emas was scared so she ran as quickly as she could. When Buta Ijo
arrived she was far from home. He was very angry when he realized that
his prey had left. So he ran to chase her. He had a sharp nose so he
knew what direction his prey ran.
Timun
Emas was just a girl while Buta Ijo was a monster so he could easily
catch her up. When he was just several steps behind Timun Emas quickly
spread the seeds of cucumber. In seconds they turned into many vines of
cucumber. The exhausted Buta Ijo was very thirsty so he grabbed and
ate them. When Buta Ijo was busy eating cucumber Timun Emas could run
away.
But
soon Buta Ijo realized and started running again. When he was just
several steps behind Timun Emas threw her bamboo needles. Soon they
turned into dense bamboo trees. Buta Ijo found it hard to pass. It took
him some time to break the dense bamboo forest. Meanwhile Timun Emas
could run farther.
Buta
Ijo chased her again. When he almost catch her again and again Timun
Emas threw her dressing. This time it turned into a lake. Buta Ijo
was busy to save himself so Timun Emas ran way. But Buta Ijo could
overcome it and continued chasing her.
Finally
when Timun Emas was almost caught she threw her salt. Soon the land
where Buta Ijo stood turned into ocean. Buta Ijo was drowned and died
instantly.
Timun Emas was thankful to god and came back to her home.
