Dwarfs in Flores mythology
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
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