120. Datu Kalaka

According to the story the old folks a few centuries ago, in a village there lived a man named Datu Kalaka. He was very respected and honored the people in the village because he was a leader of the people. That's why he was given the title by the Datu.


Datu Kalaka respected and honored people, but he was hated and feared by the Dutch. He strongly opposed the Dutch and led the resistance that many a heavy toll on the Dutch side. Strangely, though never so many times besieged Dutch forces, Datu Kalaka can always escape.


Spread the news in the community, especially among the Dutch, that Datu Kalaka have magic disappearing. While ordinary people can see, the Dutch still can not see. It made curious by the Dutch. With all the intrigue, they tried to arrest Datu Kalaka. They promise a great gift for anyone who is able to deliver Datu Kalaka life or death to the Dutch. Therefore, Datu Kalaka always moved away to get away from the Netherlands. So, when the Dutch tried to look it up in the village definitely worth it. However, at certain times, he returned to the house, hang out with family and community.


Due to long enough Dutch never came to the village, Datu Kalaka feel safe and do not need to be resettled. He settled in the village while working the fields and gardens as well as leading the people.


One day, when Datu Kalaka're relaxing at home, no one comes to tell us that the Dutch troops entered the village. Sure they will catch Datu Kalaka. As a Datu, Datu Kalaka not want to show his concern in front of others. He also does not want to save yourself if people become victims of it. Therefore, he sent people to save themselves. After that, he thought of a way to escape.


Unfortunately, his residence was surrounded Dutch. There is no turning it off from the ambush. If he get caught, he can not imagine what the punishment will be received. Perhaps he will be tortured, imprisoned, and even killed. When he resisted, would be suicidal.


Datu Kalaka do not want to be caught and do not want to die stupid. He thought quickly and decided to take the path of reckless unreasonable. If the way in which it was apparently missed, lives at stake.


When Dutch troops entered the village, they are very curious because the village was deserted. Empty houses. Dutch angry and vent their anger by destroying the village. They split up and check all the corners of the village.


They were surprised when I suddenly saw a strange sight but true in a hallway. A giant swing! Both sides of the length of fabric which is used as the swing was tied wilatung (a type of large wicker trunk) linked to the top betung (bamboo) that exist on both sides of the corridor. They were very surprised when it turned into a swing that is in the middle of the hallway. In the swing of it lay quietly for a giant baby swing. The baby stared Dutch soldiers stood around the swing, and then he closed his eyes. Baby size is bigger and longer than the size of a normal adult. His whole body was covered with fur, even bushy mustache and beard.


All members of the Dutch troops cowering. If the baby was as big as it is, let alone their parents. Dutch troops had lost his nerve. They immediately left the giant baby and the empty village to return to base.


Baby giant turned Datu Kalaka. Before the Dutch troops came, he could make a swing. Then, he lay in the swing of it and act like a baby.

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Menurut cerita orang tua-tua beberapa abad yang lalu, di suatu kampung tinggallah seorang lelaki bernama Datu Kalaka. Ia amat disegani dan dihormati orang-orang di kampung itu karena ia menjadi pemimpin masyarakat di sana. Itu pula sebabnya ia diberi gelar Datu oleh masyarakat.

Datu Kalaka disegani dan dihormati masyarakat, tetapi ia dibenci dan ditakuti Belanda. Ia sangat menentang Belanda dan memimpin perlawanan yang banyak meminta korban di pihak Belanda. Anehnya, walaupun pernah berkali-kali terkepung pasukan Belanda, Datu Kalaka selalu dapat meloloskan diri.

Tersebar berita di masyarakat, khususnya di kalangan orang Belanda, bahwa Datu Kalaka mempunyai kesaktian menghilangkan diri. Walaupun orang biasa dapat melihat, orang Belanda tetap tidak mampu melihat. Hal itu membuat penasaran pihak Belanda. Dengan segala tipu daya, mereka berusaha menangkap Datu Kalaka. Mereka menjanjikan hadiah besar bagi siapa saja yang mampu menyerahkan Datu Kalaka hidup maupun mati kepada pihak Belanda. Oleh karena itu, Datu Kalaka selalu pindah tempat tinggal untuk menghindarkan diri dari Belanda. Jadi, jika Belanda berusaha mencarinya di kampung pasti sia-sia. Akan tetapi, pada waktu-waktu tertentu, ia kembali ke rumah, berkumpul dengan keluarga dan masyarakat sekitar.

Karena sudah cukup lama Belanda tidak pernah datang ke kampungnya, Datu Kalaka merasa aman dan tidak perlu pindah tempat tinggal. Ia menetap di kampung sambil mengerjakan ladang dan kebun serta memimpin masyarakat.

Pada suatu hari, ketika Datu Kalaka sedang bersantai di rumah, ada orang datang memberitahu bahwa pasukan Belanda memasuki kampung. Tentu mereka akan menangkap Datu Kalaka. Sebagai seorang Datu, Datu Kalaka tidak mau menunjukkan kekhawatirannya di hadapan orang lain. Ia juga tidak ingin menyelamatkan diri sendiri jika masyarakat menjadi korban karenanya. Oleh karena itu, ia menyuruh penduduk menyelamatkan diri. Setelah itu, ia memikirkan cara untuk meloloskan diri.

Sayang, tempat tinggalnya sudah dikepung Belanda. Tidak mungkin lagi ia lepas dari sergapan. Jika sampai tertangkap, ia tidak dapat membayangkan hukuman apa yang akan diterimanya. Mungkin ia akan disiksa, dikurung, bahkan dibunuh. Jika ia melawan, berarti bunuh diri.

Datu Kalaka tidak ingin ditangkap dan tidak mau mati konyol. Ia berpikir cepat dan memutuskan mengambil jalan nekat yang tidak masuk akal. Jika jalan yang ditempuh itu ternyata meleset, nyawa taruhannya.

Ketika pasukan Belanda memasuki kampung, mereka amat penasaran karena kampung sepi. Rumah-rumah kosong. Belanda marah dan melampiaskan kemarahan mereka dengan menghancurkan kampung itu. Mereka berpencar dan memeriksa segenap pelosok kampung.

Mereka kaget ketika tiba-tiba melihat suatu pemandangan aneh tapi nyata di suatu lorong. Sebuah ayunan raksasa! Kedua sisi kain panjang yang dijadikan ayunan itu diikat wilatung (sejenis rotan yang besar batangnya) ditautkan ke puncak betung (bambu besar) yang ada di kiri kanan lorong itu.


Mereka amat terkejut ketika menengok ke dalam ayunan yang berada di tengah-tengah lorong. Di dalam ayunan itu terbaring dengan tenangnya seorang bayi raksasa sebesar ayunan. Bayi itu menatap serdadu Belanda yang berdiri di sekeliling ayunan, kemudian ia memejamkan mata. Ukuran bayi itu lebih besar dan panjang daripada ukuran orang dewasa yang normal. Seluruh tubuhnya ditumbuhi bulu, bahkan berkumis dan bercambang lebat.

Seluruh anggota pasukan Belanda gemetar ketakutan. Jika bayinya saja sebesar itu, apalagi orang tuanya. Pasukan Belanda pun hilang keberaniannya. Mereka segera meninggalkan bayi raksasa dan kampung yang telah kosong itu untuk kembali ke markas.

Bayi raksasa itu ternyata Datu Kalaka. Sebelum pasukan Belanda datang, ia sempat membuat ayunan. Kemudian, ia berbaring di dalam ayunan itu dan berlaku seperti bayi.