The King’s Reward

In ancient times, there was a famed king at Bedahulu, to the east of Bali He had a strong powerful horse with beautiful hair named Onceswara. The beauty of that thick white hair clearly shone under the sunlight. Its stepping foot showed of elegancy in walking. The king loved the horse sincerely. Each morning and noon, he always rode his horse around up to the border village

Besides having the king’s affection, the entire citizen and loyalty member also loved Onceswara. They gathered usually along the road to see Onceswara walk elegantly carrying the king. They welcomed the king’s group and sometimes admiring for the beautifulness of Onceswara. They spellbound by Onceswara for its golden crown that enthroned by beautiful precious stone.
One day, the empire is roaring. Onceswara is not in its cage. The Onceswara horse disappears! For that report, the king became sad and commanded the empire guardians to find the horse. The entire sides try to search Onceswara to all over the country. They had sought to all of the suspected places, but returned without any result. Onceswara was gone as if swallowed by the earth.
Then, the depressed king announced: “Whoever is able to find Oncewara will be rewarded. They who able to find it in alive, will be regarded as the king’s ‘senopati’(minister) and they who find him in dead condition, will be rewarded with land. The measure of the land will be as far as the corpse of Onceswara can be smelled.”
The king’s announcement spread quickly and was responded to by the citizens, but none of them could find Onceswara. The king was getting sad. The dashing figure of that horse always appeared in front of his eyes. Suddenly one day, there was report about Onceswara from the eastern side. They found that the horse was dead on Candidasa beach.
When he heard that news, the king was very miserable but did not forget his words. Tunjungbiru, the corpse finder, was then rewarded a land. The measuring started from the land where Onceswara was found, and ended at the last spot where the corpse could not be smelt anymore. The measuring process was watched by a Patih (empire prime minister) from Pejeng Kingdom (midst of Bali). Nevertheless, it seemed that Tunjungbiru had done a tricky thing. He hid several pieces of the horse corpse inside his pocket, so it could smell a far distance away.
On the top of the hill, Patih and Tunjungbiru stopped walking. The Patih gaspingly said,” Tunjungbiru…. For now once, starting from this hill up to Candidasa beach everything belongs to you.” Hearing that, Tunjungbiru smiled joyously.
Since then, Tunjungbiru and his family stayed at Candidasa beach. Later on, the village became a welfare village. However, it did not stand for a long period, because someday there was a great disaster that destructed the village. Soon, the villagers moved to the hill site. This movement is what in Balinese is called ngatengahan (moving away to the center). Then slowly, the word ngatengahan transformed and became a village name, which is Tengahan that is at present famed as Tenganan Village. This village is renowned for its purity of traditional custom. It is located 65 Km to the east of Denpasar city, in Karangasem Regency.
(Retold by: Gung Man)

Balineselife
Charcoal, Black Source of Energy

One day the energy source of fossils on earth will come to an end. At that time we will be forced to find out others sources. Actually there is enough source of energy around us and it is waiting for us to cultivate. It now depends on our creativity to find them.

Asimple and potential source of energy is charcoal. In the villages where there are still many coconuts and and a lot of wood. It creates an abundant source of energy. Coconut shell is processed after peeling the flesh for making copra. If the shell still affixed on its fiber (Balinese: sambuk), it usually used for burning clay handicrafts and roof by home handicraftsmen. The process of making charcoal out of coconut shell is very simple. A number of shells are collected in the oil drum. They are burnt until well done. When the burning is over, the flame is then extinguished with water.
Other kinds of charcoal material is wood. In the plantation area like in the coffee one, the farmers will take advantage of dried trees. Or the unproductive trees are renewed; these can be also used. It has wood of good quality due to its solid fiber. Coffee bonfire is peeled up in a place with dimension some 1m x 1,2m X 0,2m. Cover the cubic with soil and its surrounding. Burn well and thoroughly. It takes time for some three to seven days to complete. If the soil cover jumps it means that the burning produces ashes and gives less charcoal and on the way round. Usually coffee tree produces good quality of charcoal. Good quality also means good flames.
Charcoal has been an affordable source of energy for years. Everyday thousands of sate and corn sellers in the traditional market and street sides use it to grill their food. There is a belief that cooking using such charcoal can generates specific aroma for the food. So that’s why they keep on using such fuel. Charcoal is also widely used as a heater for non-electrical irons in the areas that have not reached by electrical networks yet. (BTN/029)