Dwarfs in Flores mythology
Liang Bua, in the local language of Teras, means cold water of the cave. It is so named because the stalactites of the cave's upper walls always drop fresh and cold water onto the floor below. According to folklore, Reba Ruek was a short, hairy and dark-skinned man in Liang Bua, who was first discovered by boar hunters.
Will Grasiasis, a prominent figure in Ruteng district, said the big cave, hidden by dense foliage, had once been unknown to locals, until six young men set off one morning to hunt wild boar. Despite the five hounds that accompanied them, the men had no luck.
By late afternoon, the youths were getting hungry when two boars, a male and a female, appeared, running in the direction of Liang Bua.
In front of the cave, the boars suddenly turned into quails, entering a hole in the cave. The hounds ran after them, into the hole, with only their tails left visible. Mambo and Magang, two of the hunters, watched them from the mouth of the cave.
Out of thirst, they too entered the cave and drank the water that dripped off its stalactites. The water was cold as ice, hence the name Liang Bua (Liang: cave; Bua: cold or ice).
While they were enjoying the fresh water, two young dwarfs appeared unexpectedly. One of the dark-skinned and hairy midgets, referred to by the name, Reba Ruek, began to speak in the local dialect: "Come and join us, because we are brothers." As the hunters refused, the two mysterious men vanished.
Mambo and Magang were scared stiff. They screamed wildly and fled from Liang Bua. But, on reaching Teras hamlet, both died instantly. Their deaths caused fear among Teras and Bere villagers.
"Nobody has since dared to hunt for boars, or roam the area alone, as Reba Ruek is believed to remain at large," Wil Grasias said, describing the effect of this myth. The story has now spread beyond Flores to Bima (West Nusa Tenggara) and Gowa (South Sulawesi) through kinship and marriage.
Martinus, a Liang Bua resident, spoke in the same tone. According to him, several days after the hunters died, a strange fire ball flew out from the cave every night into Wae Mulu river and disappeared. "Locals believe it was an omen of wera or disaster, so nobody dares to look at the cave in the evening," he said.
He claimed that an eerie shriek could also be heard in the forest around Liang Bua at night, which the locals took to be Reba Ruek's voice. "We are your brothers, but as you're not friendly, watch our fireballs and meet your doom," Martinus imitated the threat that is conveyed in the local legend.
-- Yemris Fointuna