Folktales - Lebai Malang

     Once upon a time, there was a man who lived on the bank of a river in Central Sumatra. His house lay between two villages. He was a religious teacher. His name was Lebai. He made a living both by teaching people and fishing. He was well-known by all in the two villages.

      One day, the richest families in both of the villages were giving a big party. Both of them invited him at the same hour of the same day. On the morning of the feast, Lebai was ready to attend one of the parties in his boat. However, a greedy thought struck him before he went. He could not decide which village to visit first. It was because the village in the North of the river slaughtered only one buffalo, while the other in the South of the river slaughtered two buffaloes.

     As the Northern village was nearer his house, he rowed his boat upstream to the North on the river. On his way he thought that people there did not know him well, so they would not respect him very much. He turned downstream. Because he would get much more respect-in the South, he could get two buffaloes' heads. He thought again that they could not cook very well. He kept thinking whether he should go upstream or downstream. He turned his boat upstream. When he nearly reached the place, he saw some people leaving the party. He turned his boat quickly downstream. Unfortunately, when he arrived there, he saw people leaving the house. He spent his time going upstream and downstream until the feasts were over; he got nothing.

     He felt weak; he paddled his boat slowly to his house. People had been enjoying delicious food and a pleasant day; but for Lebai, the day had ended in a great disappointment. He had an unlucky day, so he was called Lebai Malang-unfortunate Lebai.

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