The Legend of Singkarak Lake

By : Muhamad Zunanda Aji

In a village located in West Sumatra, lived Mr. Buyung, his wife, and a
boy named Indra. They lived in a small hut on the seafront.
Everyday, Mr. Buyung and his wife collected forest products and fishing
in the sea to earn money. Every morning, they sought manau, rattan, and resin,
then sold it on the market. If the fishing season arrived, they went to sea to catch
fish using nets, fishing line, or traps.
When he was 10 years old, Indra began to help their parents to the forest
and the sea. He was a child who diligently and never complained. His father and
mother were very proud of him. Only one thing made them uneasy, namely
appetite Indra was very large. Once ate, he used to spend half baskets of rice and
several plates of side dishes.
One time, they came to a bad season. Forest products and marine products
began difficult to obtain. The family only ate yams and taro as a substitute for
rice. Apparently, a bad season this time was so long, so they were more difficult
to get groceries. They were hungry every day. Over time, this situation made them
more concerned about themselves than to their children.
One day, Indra complained his stomach was very hungry. Seven days they
only ate roasted sweet potatoes. He cried and complained to his father..
"Daddy, I'm hungry. Can you give me food? " He whined.
"Lazy boy! If you're hungry, go there looking for food alone in the forest
or in the sea! " His father said.
 The mother tried to defend Indra, because Indra was still small. However,
his father insisted that Indra should sought food by himself. Because the
persuasion from his mother, Indra went to the forest on Junjung Sirih Mountain
to find some foods.
Before left, Indra fed his chicken named Taduang. The chicken was very
loyal to Indra. Whenever Indra came or went home, he was always crowed greet
him.
From morning until noon, Indra sought food to the forest and the sea. But
until noon, not the slightest found the food to fill a hungry stomach. So, he went
back home.
The next day, his father told him to go back in searched of food. While the
father and mother just slept at home. They were like already resigned to the
situation. This situation lasted until a month and Indra felt his body is very tired.
One day, when he searched some foods into the sea, his mother successed
to get pensi (a type of shellfish small size) when she was in the beach.
“What is it, Mom?” His husband asked
Indra's mother who washed food stuffs said that pensi was very tasty if it
made into curry. Then she cooked pensi curry, the aroma made his father more
hungry.
“Onde mande! it is delicious aroma, Mom. Is this enough for us? Mom,
you know Indra eat a lot. It does not seem enough, " The father said.
“So how, Dad?”
“I have an idea, we eat both while Indra went to sea. If he returns, we hide
this dish. Taduang definitely crow if Indra come,” Mr. Buyung said.
Finally, Mr. Buyung and his wife ate the pensi curry by ravenously. But,
when they hadn’t finish ate the food, Taduang crowed. they immediately
smoothed food and hid it under the bed. When Indra went into the house, he saw
his parents sat on the wood chair.
“"Sorry Dad, I did not get any fish at all," said Indra.
“If you do not get the fish, what can you eat? "Said Mr. Buyung.
"I'm so tired, Dad. Are you allow me to eat? " Said Indra.
“Okay you can eat now, but you have to wash the fibers in advance to be
white, " Mr. Buyung gave him a bundle of fibers that carried from the
forest.
 Indra went to the river to wash the fibers. For a long time he washed, but it
did not change the color of the fibers. Poor Indra, he did not know that the fibers
are indeed black and it couldn’t change to white if he washed it. He did not know
that his father and mother lied to him and continued ate at home.
Indra felt his body was very tired, he returned home. When he arrived at
home, he slowly walked into the kitchen. He so shocked, he saw his father and
mother aslept glut in the kitchen with the remnants of dinner plates strewed
around. No more food left.
While sad, Indra went from his home to a hill and sat down on a big rock.
“Father and mother had lied to me, Taduang. I am very sad. I'd better go,
because they do not love me," Sobbed Indra.
Taduang crowed as a signed that he understood his employer. Then that
chicken flapped its wings as a signal to Indra. When Indra saw it, then he
approached Taduang.
Later, Indra caressed Taduang’s feathers. Then, suddenly the chicken flew
slowly with Indra who held Taduang’s body. Immediately, Indra moved his grip
to Taduang’s foot. Apparently, the stone where they sat was carried away on foot
Indra. suddenly, the rock became enlarged and became heavy. Taduang was not
longer strong flew to bring Indra and the big rock. Finally, Indra kicked the stone
to fell to the ground and slammed into a hill that is located near the ocean. The
stone waves created elongated hole, quickly direct water flowed through the hole
so as to form the flowed of the river.
According to the story, the river was the origin of the formation of
Ombilin River that flowed through Riau. Then, the sea water shrinked, formed a
lake which was later renamed Lake Singkarak.
Meanwhile, Indra and his favorite chicken lost and no one knew.

Name : Muhamad Zunanda Aji

Class : 11-7
Student Number : 14.60.07847