JP\/18\/HOBBIT3<\/p>\n
Dwarfs in Flores mythology<\/p>\n
Liang Bua, in the local language of Teras, means cold water of
\nthe cave. It is so named because the stalactites of the cave's
\nupper walls always drop fresh and cold water onto the floor
\nbelow. According to folklore, Reba Ruek was a short, hairy and
\ndark-skinned man in Liang Bua, who was first discovered by boar
\nhunters.<\/p>\n
Will Grasiasis, a prominent figure in Ruteng district, said
\nthe big cave, hidden by dense foliage, had once been unknown to
\nlocals, until six young men set off one morning to hunt wild
\nboar. Despite the five hounds that accompanied them, the men had
\nno luck.<\/p>\n
By late afternoon, the youths were getting hungry when two
\nboars, a male and a female, appeared, running in the direction of
\nLiang Bua.<\/p>\n
In front of the cave, the boars suddenly turned into quails,
\nentering a hole in the cave. The hounds ran after them, into the
\nhole, with only their tails left visible. Mambo and Magang, two
\nof the hunters, watched them from the mouth of the cave.<\/p>\n
Out of thirst, they too entered the cave and drank the water
\nthat dripped off its stalactites. The water was cold as ice,
\nhence the name Liang Bua (Liang: cave; Bua: cold or ice).<\/p>\n
While they were enjoying the fresh water, two young dwarfs
\nappeared unexpectedly. One of the dark-skinned and hairy midgets,
\nreferred to by the name, Reba Ruek, began to speak in the local
\ndialect: "Come and join us, because we are brothers." As the
\nhunters refused, the two mysterious men vanished.<\/p>\n
Mambo and Magang were scared stiff. They screamed wildly and
\nfled from Liang Bua. But, on reaching Teras hamlet, both died
\ninstantly. Their deaths caused fear among Teras and Bere
\nvillagers.<\/p>\n
"Nobody has since dared to hunt for boars, or roam the area
\nalone, as Reba Ruek is believed to remain at large," Wil Grasias
\nsaid, describing the effect of this myth. The story has now
\nspread beyond Flores to Bima (West Nusa Tenggara) and Gowa (South
\nSulawesi) through kinship and marriage.<\/p>\n
Martinus, a Liang Bua resident, spoke in the same tone.
\nAccording to him, several days after the hunters died, a strange
\nfire ball flew out from the cave every night into Wae Mulu river
\nand disappeared. "Locals believe it was an omen of wera or
\ndisaster, so nobody dares to look at the cave in the evening," he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
He claimed that an eerie shriek could also be heard in the
\nforest around Liang Bua at night, which the locals took to be
\nReba Ruek's voice. "We are your brothers, but as you're not
\nfriendly, watch our fireballs and meet your doom," Martinus
\nimitated the threat that is conveyed in the local legend.<\/p>\n
-- Yemris Fointuna<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/jp18hobbit3-1447899208", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }