Journal of the Federated Malay States museums - Sabrizain.org

216 Journal of the F.M.S. Museums. [Vol. VII,
Now the Raja complained because the head was rotting
and polluting the river, and ordered all his followers, from the
mouth of the river to its source, to come together and remove
the dragon's head ;
and they came together.
Meanwhile Budak Yoid Intoie and his companions went on
their way until they came to a house, the owner of which was
an old man named Tak Tempait Bungah (Grandfather Patterned
Jar).
Tak Tempait Bungah asked them whence they came and
they replied "from the neighbouring country." Then they
climbed up into the house, which was situated up-stream from
the Raja's palace, and there they stayed.
Now the Raja had given it out that whoever could remove
the dragon's head should marry his daughter, who was shut
in an upper room, and enclosed by a seven-fold fence of ivorv ;
but nobody could do it, for the dragon's head was as big as a
mountain.
One night Budak Yoid Intoie asked Tak Tempait Bungah
what was the trouble from which the Raja wished to be set free,
and Tak Tempait Bungah told him how the dragon's head had
stranded at the Raja's bathing-place.
Some nights afterwards a follower of the Raja's came to
the house, and Budak Yoid Intoie said in his hearing, " Why,
if I only pushed the dragon's head with my finger, I could
"
remove it.
When the Raja's follower got home, he told the Raja that
he had met four men at Tak Tempait Bungah's house, one of
whom said that he could remove the dragon's head with a finger.
So the Raja ordered the four men to be called, and when the
messenger told Budak Yoid Intoie the Raja's order, he said,
" How can we go to the Raja's palace in these clothes, which
"
are all covered witli mud ?
The messenger returned to the Raja and told him what
Budak Yoid Intoie had said ; and he thereupon sent clothes
and everything necessary to Budak Yoid Intoie.
So Budak Yoid Intoie set out, leaving his companions
behind him, and, when he arrived at the palace, the Raja
gave him food and betel-nut.
When he had fed, the Raja asked him from where he
came, and he replied that he came from the country across the
sea, and asked why he had been sent for. Thereupon the Raja
told Budak Yoid Intoie how he had heard that he (Budak
Yoid Intoie) could remove the dragon's head with one finger,
and promised him, that, if he could do so, he should have
his daughter in marriage.
Now Budak Yoid Intoie went alone to the river to see the
dragon's head, and gave it a slight push, which sent it Moating