Folklore And Fairy Tales

Magical Crocodile

In the past, in Sawjatami Village located on the banks of the Tami River, Jayapura, Papua, there lived a man named Towjatuwa. He lived with his wife in a honai (the traditional house of the Papuans). At that time, the wife was pregnant, the time of her birth just waiting for a few more days.

On the expected day, the wife showed signs of giving birth. He suddenly shivered for no apparent reason, as an early sign of birth, and began to bleed. However, for hours the blood kept coming out, the baby in his womb did not come out. Towjatuwa became panicked and confused what to do. So he went to the house of a shaman in the village.

“Nek, please my wife,” pinta Towjatuwa, “Ia will give birth.”

“Alright, you go home first, I'll catch up with you soon,” said the baby shaman's grandmother.

Towjatuwa rushed back to his house. Meanwhile, the shaman prepares his delivery device, then leaves for Towjatuwa's house. Once there, he found Towjatuwa's wife screaming in pain.

“Nek, help me. My stomach hurts so much,” stubs Towjatuwa's wife.

“Quiet, My grandson,” said the shaman.

The shaman's grandmother immediately checked the condition of Towjatuwa's wife. Towjatuwa looks increasingly restless, he is very afraid if anything happens to his wife.

“How are things, Grandma? Why hasn't my wife given birth?” ask Towjatuwa.

“Sorry, Towjatuwa. Looks like your wife got in trouble. The baby in your wife's womb is too big so it's hard to get out,” the shaman said.

“Then, how to help him, Grandma?” ask Towjatuwa.

“I need water grass from Tami River,” replied the shaman grandmother.

Towjatuwa immediately ran towards the Tami River. Once there, he immediately looked for water grass referred to by the shaman's grandmother. He had searched here and there, but the water grass had not yet been found. As he was about to continue the search, suddenly a groaning sound came from behind him.

“Hai, what sound is it!” he cried with surprise.

As Towjatuwa looked back, there was a large crocodile behind him. Surprisingly, the back of the crocodile was overgrown with cassowary feathers. The crocodile looked really creepy.

The frightened Towjatuwa was about to escape before being eaten by the crocodile. However, when he was about to leave the place, his steps were suddenly stopped by a sound of reprimand.

“Wait a minute, Towjatuwa!” shout that sound.

“Did you call me?” ask Towjatuwa.

“True, Towjatuwa. I am the one who called you,” answered the crocodile, “My name is Watuwe, the ruler of this Tami River.”

How surprised Towjatuwa to hear the answer from the crocodile. He could not believe that the crocodile could talk like a human. The crocodile suddenly groaned in pain. Apparently, the crocodile's tail was clamped by a large rock. Towjatuwa who was eager to see the crocodile's suffering immediately helped by moving a large stone that clamped Watuwe's tail. After that, Towjatuwa intends to go to continue the search for water grass. However, Watuwe again stopped his steps.

“Shortly, Towjatuwa! If I may know, what are you looking for here?” ask Watuwe.

“I'm looking for water grass to help my wife's birth. But, I have not found it,” replied Towjatuwa.

“Do not worry, Towjatuwa,” said Watuwe, “Because you have helped me, then I will help you too. Wait for me at your house tonight.”

“Thank you in advance, Watuwe,” said Towjatuwa with a feeling of pleasure.

It's afternoon. Towjatuwa rushed home. In the evening, the Watuwe crocodile came to Towjatuwa's house. Towjatuwa's wife still looked in pain on the bed. Slowly, the mighty crocodile approached to treat it. As a result, with his miraculous powers, Towjatuwa's wife gave birth to a son safely. The baby was named Narrowra.

“Thank you, Watuwe,” said Towjatuwa and his wife.

“Sama-sama, Towjatuwa. I also thank you for helping me,” Watuwe said as he said goodbye.

Before leaving the house, Watuwe said something to Towjatuwa about his son.

“Know, Towjatuwa. Later your children will grow up to be reliable hunters,” said Watuwe, “However, I tell you, please never kill and eat me. If I die one day, take my bag of urine, and bring it to Mount Sankria. There, the celestial man has been waiting for you and will give you a clue as to what you should do.”

Towjatuwa and his wife were very grateful to Watuwe for helping the birth of their child.

“My wife, even though Watuwe is an animal, she is very kind and loving. I don't know what we can do to return his goodwill to us,” Towjatuwa said to his wife.

“The only way we can do to repay his kindness is to remember and carry out all his messages,”.

“You, true my wife,” says Towjatuwa.

Since then, Towjatuwa and his descendants have always protected the magical crocodile and other crocodiles in the Tami River.“The only way we can do to repay his kindness is to remember and carry out all his messages,”.