A Smart Turtle

Translated by: Khidir M. Yazir / Kid Haider

Once upon a time, on the beautiful island of Borneo, there was a lonely orphaned tortoise. He found an unlikely friend in a mischievous and careless monkey. When the monkey passed away, the tortoise decided to keep a piece of the monkey's bone and asked Dewa Bubuk to craft a flute for him. The tortoise cherished his new toy flute, carrying it everywhere and playing it whenever he felt lonely. The sweet melody of the turtle's flute caught the attention of King Ungka.

     King Ungka desired the flute for himself and tried to trick the tortoise into giving it up. Despite the king's cunning ways, the tortoise sought help from a giant crab to reclaim his beloved flute. In a failed attempt to take back the flute, King Ungka suffered a severe injury from the giant crab's pinch. The king, in his desperation, sought the help of many shamans to heal his wound.

     Unfortunately, the injury proved fatal for King Ungka, ultimately leading to his demise. This tragic end was the result of the king's insatiable greed.