My Translation_ Indonesian's Folklore_Keong Mas_Cerita Rakyat Indonesia

 GOLDEN SNAIL (KEONG MAS)

Once upon a time there lived a young man called Galoran. He was considered to be respectable because his parent's wealth and rank. Yet, Galoran was very lazy and extravagant. His daily worked was only wasted his parent's wealth, even when his parents passed away he even more often spending spree. Because of that sooner or later his parents wealth will be finished. Nevertheless it doesn't make Galoran conscious at all, he even spent the time only for lazed and stroll around. The villagers were pitied looking at him. But whenever anyone offers him a job, Galoran only eat and sleep without willing to do the job. But eventually, Galoran was taken by a wealthy widow to be her husband. This makes Galoran very happy; "Shoots in love side dish arrived / Pucuk dicinta ulam pun tiba," thought Galoran.

The widow has a daughter who was very diligent and very good at weaving, her name was Jambean. Jambean's weaved was so good until it was known throughout the hamlets. Yet, Galoran hated his step-daughter very much, because Jambean often reprimanded him as he often lazed around. Galoran's hatred was so deep, to bear plan to murder his own step-daughter. He talked to his wife sharply, "Hai, Nyai, how dared Jambean to me. How dared she advised parents! Was that good?" "Be patient, Kak. Jambean has not got any bad intention toward Kakak, persuaded his wife. "I know why she was rude to me, so that I leave the house!" he cried again with his wide eyes open. "Don't be like that kak, Jambean only wanted to remind you so that you're willing to work" thus the wife attempt to defuse his anger. "Ah... nonsense. To make it short, you have to choose... I or your daughter!" thus Galoran threatened.

Jambean's mother was very upset. The mother was crying day and night because her heart was confused. She cried: "How could your father tormented you Jambean. Jambean my child, come here child" she cried softly. "Wait a second mother, my weaving left a little" answered Jambean. "Nah finished already" she cried again. Then Jambean found her mother who was grieving. "Why mother being upset" she asked compassionately. Then her mother narrated her step-father's planned to kill Jambean. Then Jambean said sadly: "Never mind mother don't be upset, let me fulfill father's wishes. The true one will eventually be happy, mother". "But, I only have one message, if father had killed me, please don't bury my corpse but throw me into the dam instead" she answered again. The mother nodded sorrowfully. At the end of the day, Jambean was killed by her step-father, and as Jambean's wished the mother threw her corpse into the dam. Magically, Jambean's body and head transformed into shrimp and clam, or in Javanese language also called as snail.

There lived in Dadapan village two widow sisters named Mbok Rondo Sambega and Mbok Rondo Sambadil. The two widows were living in an impoverished situation and their livelihood were collecting wood and taro leaves. One day, the two sisters went to the nearby dam to look for taro leaves. They were so stunned to see a golden yellow shrimp and clam. "How beautiful this shrimp and clam" cried Mdok Rondo Sambega. Look how beautiful her skin colour, golden yellow. I want to take care of it" she cried again. "Yes, it was very beautiful, let's take this shrimp and snail home. Then they put the Golden Snail and shrimp into the jars of clay in the kitchen. Since they take care the Golden Snail and shrimp, their life had changed. Especially, every time they came back from work, there were already available food in the kitchen and the house became very neat and clean. Both Mbok Rondo Sambega and Mbok Rondo Sambadil were feeling wonderment with it. Until one day, they planned to find out who did all those things.

One day, as usual they went to look for the wood and taro leaves, they pretended to go and then after walked a little bit far they immediately went back then slipped into the kitchen. From the kitchen they could hear the sound of rustling, the two sisters instantly peeked and saw a beautiful girl came out from the jar of clay which contained their pet, the Golden Snail and shrimp. "Of course she was the incarnation of the Golden Snail and shrimp" whispered Mbok Rondo Sambega to Mbok Rondo Sambadil. "Let's catch her before it was transformed again into Golden Snail and shrimp" whispered Mbok Rondo Sembadil. They came into the kitchen slowly, then they caught the girl who was busy cooking. "Come on, tell us quickly child, who are you" urged Mbok Rondo sambega, "Are you an angel?" she said again. "Not Mak, I am an ordinary person because I was killed and discarded by my own parents, then I transformed into Snail and shrimp" answered Jambean lowly. "Touched hearing Jambean's stories then both of the sisters decided to take Jambean (Keong Mas) as their adopted child. From then on, Keong Mas helped the two sisters with weaving. Her weaved was very pretty and good so it was so famous all over the country, and the two widow sisters became richer from day to day.

The woven reached in the capital of the kingdom. The young king was very interested with the weave which was made by Jambean or Keong Mas. In the end, the king decided to look by himself the woven manufacturer and left the palace and disguised as a cloth merchant. In the aftermath, the king knew about Keong Mas, and very much interested in Keong Mas beauty as well as her hard-worked. The king then asked the two sisters to bring Jambean or Keong Mas  in to the castle and wooed Keong Mas to make her his queen. How happy the two widow sisters were.

KEONG MAS

The Indonesian Version Original Source:

http://www.lokerseni.web.id/2012/01/cerita-rakyat-keong-mas.html