The Thousand Mask Warrior

Jukungs

The people of the Banjar Sultanate know the knowledge in making boats in a special way. Boats, canoes and boats are very important in the life of the community and the country, considering the island of Tanjung Pura is filled with large and small river lanes. The rivers become a means for citizens to travel in the purpose of trade and even war.

The term for a boat made in the Banjar area is a jukung boat. The typical location of this boat compared to other regional sea or river boats is on the way of making it that applies combustion to the cavity of the wood stem.

Jukung is made from a whole tree trunk. The large tree is then cut down, after which it must be expanded and heated using smoke for seven days and seven nights.

The people of Daya and Malay-Banjar in the southern island of Tanjung Pura usually find and take wood from the trees in the area of Mangkutup and Musi River. In that place there are similar trees meranti or tengkawang as high as thirty fathoms.

It is in these forests that the makers of jukung make jukung. They select, cut, and make the would jukung by using tools that are usually used to dig the inside of the tree and make cavities that are then transferred to the rivers.

The jukung will then be done further in the Manusop River and Dusun River which is located downstream from the forest where the jukung will be made. At the site, the workers are divided into working groups consisting of four to five people in one group.

Their job is to complete the dredging of the inside and the outside will jukung, to form a jukung with both ends taper.

In addition, another job is to thin the body of the jukung until it is ready to open the part that has been dredged by using fire.

The next job is called mamaru, which is how to open the will jukung by using fire. At this stage, it will be filled with water, while along the bottom heated with fire.

After completion, then the water is dried and will be turned upside down with the hull facing upwards. In this way, the entire cavity will be filled with smoke and hot steam.

After the completion of mamaru's work, it will now be reversed again with one side to the fire. By using notches and wooden planks the opening is done carefully little by little.

Now, it will be open wide enough and already looks like a boat. Completed the opening process by using fire, will jukung is ready to be taken elsewhere for the completion stage.

In that place, the jukung will be reprocessed so that the jukung becomes a boat or jukung with certain types such as jukung sudur, jukung patai, and jukung batambit.

Dozens of Javanese people left using ten jungkung made by Banjar. The close relationship between Sukadana and Banjar, make a little more, there are items made in Banjar used in Sukadana and vice versa.

Their equipment is so complete. From weapons such as swords, machetes, spears to some also carry shotguns. The bed is still faithful with a pair of Kali rattan and its ginunting. Narendra was clearly still carrying the trident-eyed spear and slipped the keris given by one of the Javanese groups.

However, as did the small Jayaseta troupe accompanied by Dara Cempaka, Ireng and Siam, this troupe also wore neat clothes, both quality and unpretentious. With such a large number of entourage, it would be very problematic when they were in droves armed with weapons.

***

Twenty Daya people from different tribes had made it into the ulin wooden fortress, somehow. Jayaseta was enjoying his last day in the village by sharing his canoeing with the Punyan, before one citizen's head rolled off his neck.

Jayaseta himself was ready to wear the mask of war Daya and mandau mantikei belonging to the Man Da U himself given to him by the Temenggung.

War is inevitable. Shouts are heard here and there. Twenty enemy Power soldiers deliberately spread to all corners of the wind inside the village, rather than fighting Punyan, Jayaseta and the armed soldiers in front of them directly.

"We can't save everyone, Jayaseta. Face what is in front of you. They used the way they used to, too, killing as many citizens as possible" Punyan exclaimed.

Jayaseta clenched her jaw in anger. What kind of battle is it that kills those who don't go to war? He will not just shut up to see this happen. In addition to the villagers, there are Dara Cempaka, Ireng and Siam who are now out of nowhere.

So with two moves: dodging the swipe do the enemy who came suddenly, and slashing towards the neck, Jayaseta instantly killed the opponent.

He glided quickly looking for enemies scattered in various places, while his brain kept wondering: where is Temenggung Bear, Dara Cempaka and others? And didn't Punyan immediately run to the house to protect Kumang, his wife?

***

The journey of the Javanese people from Sukadana is only half a day away to the fortified village of ulin wood after a few days of rowing on the river.

"They are tribal people inland, but definitely not people from the Daya tribe of ulin wooden fortress that we want to go to, sir," said one of the Javanese who was on a boat with them.

"It won't matter if we're not too close to the riverbank. After all we have no business with them," said the Javanese back.

But strangely, just now the Javanese said that it is not a problem for them if they do not approach the land or river banks, Narendra felt their boat was instead paddled closer to the hidden figures. Even Katilapan who felt the same way and also heard the conversation between Narendra and the Javanese immediately shouted towards the rower and several boats that were also clearly visible towards the edge. "Why is our boat approaching the edge? Don't you see that?!" katilapan said pointing towards some people inland which has now begun to be seen clearly.

Arrows rippling. One body fell into the river. Before long some arrows began to break from the bow, as well as the needles of poisonous chopsticks that stood on the boat like rain.

"Turn the boat, get away from the river bank!" shouted Narendra. Likewise Katilapan who immediately passed ginunting and memapras arrows whose shape is much shorter than the arrows commonly used in Java.

Indeed, there are some tribes of Daya Si Tanjung Pura who wear arrows as long-range weapons in addition to chopsticks. Only, the arrows are shorter and shorter to be carried shooting through the sidelines of dense trees.

"Use shotgun!" yell Katilapan.

DAR!

DAR!

DAR!

Three shots were almost simultaneously heard.

But what collapsed were three lifeless bodies of Javanese in the boat.

Every boat was not long wavering, a commotion occurred. The boat was still quickly paddled to the river bank.

Katilapan did not have time to pay attention to what happened when the Javanese who spoke with Narendra was pierced by a translucent spear from his back. One of the boatmen did it. Now even one more rower picked up the spear and attacked Katilapan.

***

Jipen clasped his brother's hand. The two ran towards a cavity between the ulin wooden fortresses. There were five Power attackers standing there, while two soldier guards had been killed.

"Sister, we have to go now. This is our last chance after the previous attack plan was unsuccessful" he said.

"But my sister, I want to be the one to kill Temenggung Bear and Punyan" Kumang replied, holding back the pull of his sister's hand.

"You're so stubborn, brother! We will be free after a long time as their slaves. Now you want to risk that freedom with your life? They're not just anyone. Let me and our tribesmen finish them off. I promise, Brother."

Kumang shook her head hard. "You think you're the only one with a way to fight the enemy? I will behead Punyan with my own hands!"

Jipen gnashed his teeth with the stubbornness of his brother. "Good ... Good. But, if things go bad, not according to plan, I want you to go with our fellow brother and let me face Punyan or Temenggung Bear. If you're still stubborn, brother, it's useless for us to try to escape. I'd rather die here as a slave. That's my last offer!" Jipen.

"I can kill Punyan. It's up to you and the soldiers who defeat or capture him if they have to, even if I have my own way. However, if it fails, I promise to run out with you, my sister."

Jipen nodded loudly then dashed quickly towards the intruder soldiers. Soon Jipen came with two soldiers running to settle, while the rest waited in the cavity of the ulin fortress that was open to other reinforcements who were on their way on the boats.