Stories, especially that of Iban folklore, sometimes have unexpected, surprising plots, twists and turns, even unusual ending.
Perhaps this could be because in the olden days, Iban elders were still close to nature and were in contact with the spirits surrounding them, day and night.
They were able to “communicate” with the spirits and some were even in oneness with nature, living things and creatures there. The following story exemplifies such a plot.
There was this young bachelor named Tuga in a Kapuas basin longhouse called Munggu Kubal, who lived together with his elderly parents. He was the only child. Apart from being kind, he was good looking.
Due to such attributes, most maidens there were attracted to him. But it was Inie who was really head over heels in love with him.
She was the youngest of the longhouse chief’s seven children. All her siblings had already settled down and had children of their own.
Tuga and Inie became an inseparable pair. In the longhouse or going out to the forests and streams, they would accompany each other. Their love developed into an obsession, but they were yet to discuss their relationship and possible marriage with their parents.
One night, Tuga dreamed of being visited by an old bearded man.
“Dom (an endeared name) I come here to tell you something. You must take Inie as your wife. The two of you must get married or else one of you will die,” the visitor said.
“I agree but I have to consult with my parents first. If they agree, the marriage is on,” he replied but the visitor had disappeared.
When he told his parents about the dream, they said he made it up just because he was too anxious to marry the girl.
“If you don’t believe me, then it’s up to you,” Tuga said.
The parents then went to their farm but Tuga was in no mood to go to work after hearing their statement. He was also perturbed by his dream.
He spoke to himself: “Since my parents don’t love me (by not believing my dream), then it makes no difference if I live or die.”
During his sleep that night, Tuga uttered a special sing-song chanting pelandai using it to trace his life journey in the world of the living right up to the afterlife domain Sebayan. His pelandai chanting lyrics involved a journey of no return. It was almost similar to Lady Macbeth’s soliloquy in the Shakespearean play Macbeth except that Tuga’s ended up in his death.
The parents were greatly saddened by their son’s passing. They agreed that their son was telling the truth about his dream.
Inie was devastated. Before Tuga’s body was put inside the casket, Inie slipped a ring on the finger of her lover and took the ring from his finger as an exchange.
She later secretly left the longhouse on her way to trace her dead lover. After a while, she reached the border of the living abode and Sebayan. She continued her journey passing various abodes.
Along the way, she stopped for a while at all the dwellings to ask about Tuga but all said he didn’t stop there.
Finally, she came to the abode of bachelors.
“He is here but always keeps to himself in his room and is always lying down covered with a blanket for he is very sad thinking of his girlfriend, Inie, left in the world of the living,” said one man.
So Inie quickly went into the room. She hugged the person lying in the centre covered with a blanket.
“Don’t disturb me unless you are my lover, Inie,” said the person.
“If you are Tuga, do you still remember the ring that we exchanged?” said Inie, handing him his ring.
Upon seeing the ring, the man swiftly held his lover, hugged and kissed her.
“I’m here to take you back to the world of the living,” said Inie.
So they quickly left. Tuga told Inie to close her eyes. When she reopened her eyes, they were at the bathing site of Munggu Kubal. After bathing, they moved up and entered their longhouse to the surprise — and happiness — of all.
That evening, a belian ceremony by a shaman was held for the purpose of returning their spirit and soul to the world of the living.
They lived happily as husband and wife.
