I Siap Selem - Balinese Old Story

I SIAP SELEM

Once upon a time there was a black hen named Siap Selem which had seven chicks. Doglagan was the youngest chick. There was also a cat named Men Kuuk lived in the same place as the black hen which also had many kittens. Men Kuuk frequently made strategies to eat the black hen with her chicks. Every night Men Kuuk with her kittens talked about the black hen. “I’ll eat the feet, the wings is mine, no…the neck will be delicious, I prefer the head”. Said Men Kuuk and her kittens.

One day, the fur of the six black hen’s chicks had grew. Unfortunately, the fur of the youngest chick did not grow yet. In a midnight, the black hen told her chicks, “You all have to fly away from here one by one, because if you’re still here you will be caught and eaten by Men Kuuk!”. The flight was started from the oldest chick.

“Buuuurrrr,,”,  and Men Kuuk asked, “Black hen, what was that?”,  “that was a pecan leave”. Answered the black hen. Followed by the other chicks. “Buuuuurrrr,,”. And Men Kuuk asked again, “Black hen, what was that?” “that was a bamboo leave”. Answered the black hen.

All of the chicks had flew, but there was still Doglagan who could not fly because he had no wings. The black hen told him, “I’ll leave you here, you’ll be safe, you’ll not be eaten by Men Kuuk. If one day you’ll be eaten by Men Kuuk, you have to say “Men Kuuk, you’ll be disgusted to eat me because my flesh is still bitter. Later if my flesh has been delicious you’re allowed to eat me anytime”.

Afterwards, the black hen flew leaving Doglagan. At that time, Doglagan was alone in that place. Men Kuuk heard Doglagan, “kiaaak,,kiaaakk,,kiaaak”. Men kuuk was wondering, “why Doglagan is crying alone? Where is his mother?”, ooohhh, it might be the pecan leave and bamboo leave that fell yesterday as the black hen said. Suddenly, the kittens came and wanted to eat Dogladan.

“Don’t eat me now, you’ll be disgusted to eat me because my flesh is still bitter. Later if my flesh has been delicious you’re allowed to eat me anytime”, said Doglagan.

Men Kuuk trusted Doglagan and she imagined Doglagan with thick fur. In the next day, what Men Kuuk had imagined was true. Doglagan had thick fur and beautiful color. It made Men Kuuk and all the kittens came to him and wanted to eat him again. Doglagan said, “Now, you’re allowed to eat me, but I have one request for you. Before you eat me, you must be flying me eleven times in order my blood will be mixed with my flesh, that will be delicious to be eaten!”. Men kuuk accepted Doglagan’s request, she flew Doglagan. In the first flight Doglagan fell down to Men kuuk, so do in the next flight. But in the last flight, “Men kuuk, now is the last time that you have to fly me as high as possible”. Said Doglagan. Men kuuk flew Doglagan very high. She did not realize that Doglagan deceived her.

Eventually Doglagan flew away from Men kuuk. He went to a forest to look for his family. Men kuuk and her kittens had been deceived by Doglagan. Finally they had nothing to eat.