A Folk Tale from West Sumatra The Legend of Malin Kundang Source of the original text Translated by Steve Andrianto Long time ago, in a fisherman village of Air Manis Beach in the area of Padang, West Sumatra lived a widow named Mande Rubayah with her son Malin Kundang. Malin was a diligent and docile boy. Mande Rubayah really loved and indulged him. Mande Rubayah was already old, she could only work as a cake seller to earn a living for her and her only son. One day, Malin fell sick â a really serious illness that might take his life â but eventually he could be cured thanks to her motherâs endeavor. After his recovery, she loved him even more. They were a mother and child who cared for each other. Now that Malin had grown up, he asked permission from his mother to go overseas to the cities, because there happened to be a large ship harboring on the coast of Air Manis Beach. âNo, Malin. Iâm afraid something might happen to you on the land overseas. Just stay here, accompany me,â said his mother who turned sad after hearing Malinâs desire to go overseas. âDonât worry Mom. Nothing will happen to me,â said Malin holding his motherâs hands. âThis is my chance, Mom, because not every year there is a large ship harboring on this coast. I want to change our fortunes, please let me,â Malin insisted. âAlright, Iâll let you. Please return soon, Iâll always be waiting for you, Son,â said his mother in tears. Though unwilling, Mande Rubayah finally allowed his son to leave. She gave Malin seven packs of rice wrapped in banana leaves. âProvisions for your journey,â she said giving the packs of rice to Malin. Then, he headed off to the land overseas leaving his mother alone. Days had passed, each day seemed so slow for Mande Rubayah. Every morning and evening Mande Rubayah stared at the sea. âHow far have you sailed Son?â she thought while still gazing at the sea. She always prayed that her son be safe and return soon. After sometime, every time there was a harboring ship, she always asked the crews and the captain about her son. âDid you see my son, Malin? Is he okay? When will he return?â she asked. Nevertheless, every time she asked them, she never found the answers. Malin never sent any things or messages to her. Year after year Mande Rubayah was always asking, but there isnât ever an answer until she was turning so old that she had to stoop down to walk. One day Mande Rubayah received news from the captain that once took Malin overseas. He delivered good news to her. âMande, do you know, your son is now married with a beautiful girl, a daughter of a very rich nobleman,â he said. Mande Rubayah was so thrilled with the news. She always prayed that her son be safe and return to visit her. The light of hope returned to her face. But months after she received the news of Malin from the captain of his ship, Malin hadnât returned to visit her. âMalin, please return, Son. Iâm already old, Malin, when will you return âŠ,â she wept sorrowfully every night. She was certain her son would return. And he did. Not so long from then, on a bright day from afar appeared a large and fancy ship approaching the coast. The villagers gathered together, they thought it was a ship of a king or prince. They welcomed them cheerily. As the ship was getting closer to the port, a young couple was visible standing in the pavilion of the ship. Their clothes sparkled in the sunlight. Their faces brightened up with a smile as they were pleased with the merry welcome. Mande Rubayah also jostled her way to the ship. Her heart beat very fast upon seeing the young man on the ship. She was completely certain that the man was his son, Malin Kundang. Even before the village elders gave their welcome, she had approached Malin and hugged him tight at once. She was afraid of losing his son again. âMalin, my son. You really are my son, arenât you?â she said holding back her tears of joy. âAfter so long why didnât you send any news?â Malin was shocked as he was hugged by an old woman in her worn out clothes. He didnât believe that old woman was her mother. Before he even had a chance to speak, his beautiful wife spitted on her and said, âThis ugly woman is your mother? Why did you lie to me!â she said cynically, âDidnât you tell me that your mother was also a noble of my status?!â Hearing his wifeâs abusive words, Malin Kundang instantly pushed his mother away and she fell rolling on the sand, âCrazy woman! Iâm not your son!â he said rudely. Mande Rubayah still couldnât believe what her son did to her, she fell sitting on the ground and said, âMalin, Malin, my son. I am your mother! Why do you become like this, Son?!â Malin Kundang ignored her motherâs words. He didnât want to acknowledge his mother. He was embarrassed by his wife. Seeing that woman edging towards him to hug his legs, Malin kicked her and said, âHey, crazy woman! My mother is not like you! Poor and dirty!â That old woman fell on her back on the sand, crying and shattered. The people seeing that incident were startled and then returned to their own houses. Mande Rubayah was fainted and lay alone. When she was awake, the beach was already deserted. She saw Malinâs ship was getting further away. She didnât expect Malin, whom once she loved, dared to do such things. Her heart was sore and hurt, then she raised her hands to the sky and prayed in her sorrow. âOh God, if he is not my son, I forgive what he did before. But if he is indeed my son Malin Kundang, I beg for your justice, oh God!â she wept sorrowfully. Not too long after that, the weather above the sea, which had been bright earlier, turned dark. Suddenly a rain fell so heavily. Then a hurricane was formed and stroke Malin Kundangâs ship followed by a roaring thunder. At that moment, his ship was torn into pieces and washed ashore by the waves. On the next day, when the sun rose from the east, the hurricane had ceased. At the foothill was the ship wreckage which had turned into stones. Thatâs the ship of Malin Kundang! There was also a stone that resembled a human being. Thatâs Malin Kundang, the rebellious child who was cursed by his mother into stone because of his rebellious acts. Swimming around the spaces beneath the rock were anchovies, mullet fish, and mackerel fish. It was said that those fish were the fragments of the body of Malinâs wife who kept looking for Malin Kundang. Until now, whenever there are strong waves washing over the stones that resemble the ship wreckage and human being, voices of a man wailing can be heard. Sometimes it may sounds like a man mourning for himself, âForgive me, MotherâŠ! Forgive me!â It is believed to be the voice of Malin Kundang, the son who rebelled against his mother. âThe moral of the story of the Legend of Malin Kundang is respect your mother and do not ever rebel against her.â The stone of Malin Kundang on Air Manis Beach, Padang, West Sumatra
Oneday, when Malin Kundang was sailing, he saw a merchant's ship which was being raided by a small band of pirates. He helped the merchant. With his brave and power, Malin Kundang defeated the pirates. The merchant was so happy and thanked to him. In return the merchant asked Malin Kundang to sail with him. To get a better life, Malin Kundang agreed.
Once Upon a time, lived a diligent boy named Malin Kundang. He lived in the seashore with his mother. They were very poor, but they lived quiet and harmonious. One day, a big ship closed to the beach near their village. They asked peoples to join work in their ship and went to the cross island. Malin Kundang wanted to join with them because he wanted to improve his familyâs life. But his mother didnât permit him. She worried to Malin. Malin still kept his argument and finally he sailed with the bigship. Several years later, Malin Kundang succed and he became rich trader. Then, he came to his native village with his beatiful wife, but his wife didnât know Malinâs real descent. His happy mother quickly approached Malin and brought a plate of village cake, Malinâs Favorite. But Malin didnât admit that woman as his poor mother, and then he kicked the village cakewhich brought by his mother until scattered. His mother very broken heart because Malin rebellious to her, who had growth him. Then, his mother cursed Malin became stone. Suddenly, the bigship which Malinâs had was vacillated by a big storm and all of his crewman tossed aside out. Malin realized that was his fault that rebellious his mother. He bowed down and became a stone.
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