Folklore And Legends
FOLKLORE OF THE ORIGIN OF FROGS ON EARTH ASMAT

Once upon a time, in the area of Asmat lived seven brothers who had been orphaned. Their father and mother had long since died from an incurable disease.

The eldest of the seven children was named Ker. Following behind him, his younger brother named Okhrobit, then Ovorirat. The fourth, fifth, and sixth children all have a name, namely Beribit Ua, Beribit Enga, Beribit Uco. And the youngest was a girl, named Taraot.

These seven brothers after their parents were taken care of by their grandmother, named Yamsyaot. Yamsyaot's grandmother was famous for being very hard at educating them. They live somewhere remote, far away from other villages. Yamsyaot's grandmother built a warm house for her granddaughter. The house is made of wooden poles and the wall and roof. This traditional house is famous throughout Irian Jaya under the name honay (honai).

One day Ker araucasam atakham (in Asmat, meaning Ker and his sisters) came down to the river to find fish. They used small arrows to get the fish. The fish that are found in the river are vet and pupit fish. But the fish are good at avoiding. They hid by the river behind rocks behind logs. So engrossed was Ker and his sisters in hunting the fish, he did not realize his arrow hit the tail of a very large cork fish. Apparently the fish that will be targeted is hiding behind a large cork fish that might be thought of wooden stems. The arrow released by Ker hit the base of the cork fish's tail.

The six brothers were surprised and astonished, they did not expect to find such a big fish. After investigation it turned out that the cork was tied with a rope of rattan on his head. Just remember them if the fish is a fish that is kept by the grandmother of Yamshaot apparently the fish has long been kept so that the fish is very large and can be eaten by one large family.

Ker felt very sorry for injuring the fish. grandmother had painstakingly kept the cork fish.now because the fish was almost dead. Besides regretting, he was also afraid that his actions would be known by Yamshaot's grandmother. Ker and his sisters will be punished, condemned and even killed. Therefore, there arose an intention in his heart to kill the cork fish, he would finish the fish without the knowledge of Yamshaot's grandmother. But before carrying out his intentions, he first performed with his younger siblings. At first his sisters did not agree with his brother's intentions.A few days later, there was another round of negotiations. Finally they agreed to kill the big, fat cork.

In conducting deliberation, they did not include the youngest Taraot. Taraot was well-loved by Yamsyaot's grandmother. She was the only daughter of the seven brothers.After all the plans were laid down, they waited for Yamshaoth's grandmother to go and sago. The place was far away, usually Yamsyaot's grandmother left for a few days.

Now that the awaited moment had come, in the morning the grandmother of Yamshaoth had departed, he advised her granddaughter.

“Ker, you are the oldest child in this family. Grandmother hopes that you can take care of your sisters, and take responsibility for everything that your grandmother left behind. Stay well at home, eat the sago that grandmother has prepared in the kitchen.”

Thus Yamsyaot's grandmother's message to Ker and his sisters. Then the grandmother turned to Taraot, and delivered a message to the little girl.

“Taraot my grandson, stay with your brothers and obey what Ker says. But if you are not cared for and stay alone, follow the grandmother to the place of smoking sago. Grandmother will give a sign (direction) to that place.after saying so go grandmother Yamshaot.

After that grandmother Ker and her sisters prepared to carry out their plan. They went down to the river, and they killed the cork fish of Yamshaoth's grandmother. The fish is then cut into pieces and stirred with sago. After wrapped with sago leaves (leaves of grass) and then burned. The work was done without Taraot's knowledge. Even after the food was cooked, Taraot was not given a single bit. They were worried that Taraot would ask where the food came from. If Taraot finds out, he will tell his grandmother Yamshaot. Of course they will be punished.

Taraot also knows what his brothers are doing. Unbeknownst to them Taraot has peeked at their work. Taraot had been hearing their talks since a few days earlier. He had just come out of hiding after his brothers finished the meal, pretending to be very hungry. He asked for food from his brothers. But the food was eaten. There's nothing left to give Taraot. Taraot began to sulk and said he would report their actions to Yamshaot's grandmother.

“The brothers have eaten a delicious meal, but they have not been saved for me. Let me catch up with granny”.

Hearing the word Taraot, then Ker said “go following grandma.indeed only you are the one he loves. We will leave this place and it is you who will get his entire legacy.”

After saying so, Ker and his younger siblings prepared to flee all the way. They try to run away before Taraot meets Yamshaot's grandmother. Taraot must have complained about their actions. Taraot is alone. He felt angry and angry. He soon penetrated the sago forests to meet his grandmother. Not forgetting he picked up and collected the fish bones that his brothers threw away. All of this will be handed over to Yamshaot's grandmother as proof of their actions.

Taraot finally arrived at the sago place where Yamsyaot's grandmother was smoking sago. From far away he had been calling out his grandmother's name.

“Let's my dear grandson! Why have you come alone, your brothers?why didn't anyone bring you here?” so Taraot said sadly mixed with anger.

“Ah…. Grandmom. Those brothers are no longer dear to me, Mo. They hate me. When I was hungry they did not give me food. All the food was spent by them. That's why I followed grandma here.”

Upon hearing Taraot's complaint, Yamsyaot's grandmother grabbed him to be close. Then the grandmother comforted her granddaughter.

“Already Taraot, don't sulk too. We will eat together here. Grandma has prepared grilled sago. There are also tasty shrimp from that little time.boys are forever unexpected. My grandmother told me to always protect you. It turns out they did the opposite. Come let's eat.”

Then they ate with gourmand, Taraot was very hungry. Until he ate a lot.

After finishing eating, in a few moments later drowsiness began to attack Taraot. He fell under a tree and his head was nodding. Seeing her granddaughter so sleepy, Grandma Yamsyaot felt pity. He then raised his grandson, holding him while stroking his head. How surprised grandma Yamsyaot not when an object pierced his palm. After investigation it turned out to be a piece of fish bone. Apparently Taraot put the bones of the cork fish leftover food his brothers in his hair. Grandma woke Taraot up and asked.

“Why don't you ask your brothers for help in finding this tick on your head? Try to see a lot of bones in your head, where are the bones of this fish?”

“Grandpa! just now I have said, they do not care anymore with me the bones of the fish are their feeding marks that were thrown into my head.”

Taraot answered his grandmother. Then with another pamper he sucked his head into his grandmother's shoulder. But Yamsyaoth's grandmother pushed Taraot's body forward, and asked him why. Yamsyaot's grandmother began to feel suspicious when she showed the bones of the fish. His instincts said that it was the bone of a huge cork fish.

Taraot then tells that his brothers have caught a very large cork fish. It is thought that the fish was a fish that Yamsyaot's grandmother kept. The fish had been cut into pieces and burned, and they had consumed the fish. They gave him nothing. Hearing this, Yamsyaot's grandmother became angry, and asked again.

“does that fish tied to the river with a piece of rattan?”

“true nek. I saw them pulling it with rattan.”

Hearing those words, Yamsyaot's grandmother grew angry. At that time he accused his grandson of conspiring with his six brothers. He came there only to deceive Yamshaoth's grandmother.

Grandma's anger was unbearable. Taraot lifted him up high and threw him on top of the top of the sago tree. Taraot's stuck in there. Then the cruel grandmother told her granddaughter to make a sound: khar,khar,khar.

Since then Taraot turned into a frog, that's the origin story of the frog on Asmat earth to date.