The Mother of the Pleiades
A Mythological Story of the Iban
Almighty God made a golden stone in the eastern corner of the sky known as Tangkulas Batu Mas. Many years afterwards this stone changed into a very beautiful girl whose eyes and skin shone and glittered like a lump of gold. Her name was Dayang Laing.
When her time to wed, came she was very sorrowful for there was no man to be wed. So when the wind blew strongly, she stood naked before it so it would blow on her. After she had done this several times she became pregnant and she bore seven daughters. These babies grew up quickly and became extremely beautiful. They were a delight to her mother who lived with them in a rough shelter. One day they were all inside the shelter a strong wind blew her children away. She hurried outside to see where they had gone. As she looked up towards the sky, they were sitting in a semi-circle in the sky just like in her hut. In her sadness she looked up to see them they were high and bright as a group of seven stars. The Dyaks called them the Pleiades. Dayang Liang was full of sorrow and prayed someday she would go and meet her children again.
A powerful chief named Abu Tingang son of Semarugh . He was very strict and made sure no one broke the rules on taboos or committed incest. One day Abu Tingang was fishing by poisoning the fish with tuba root. On learning this, the chief of the frogs, Bunsu Raong, became worried for he did not want the fish killed in this manner. So he ordered the frogs to croak day and night making a deafening noise all across the country.
Tired of all the croaking, Abu Tingang went to see one of them. Bunsu Raong told him it was a protest against him Abu Tingang. If you and your people want to catch fish for food, you had better shut the door of the sky to stop the rain from falling to earth. Bunsu Raong told Abu Tingang that Sera Gindit could close the door as he held the key to the sky door. If you go to him you must take the leaf of a coconut palm for him to sew the door shut once it is locked. He walked and came to a hut which had some coconuts. He drank some of the milk and noticed a piece of stone batu perunsut which had been used by a woman to clean her skin. Then Abu Tingang entered a small side room and saw a jar called Saketun Indu Benda Kelawah Moa sitting in the corner. As he raised the lid he saw a woman hiding in there called whose skin sparkled like twinkling stars. He asked who she was and she said she was called Dayang Laing and she lived alone in the country. He said she should not live in desolation. She said she was afraid of the big bird Garuda which now and then flew over the land. The a bird fed on the flesh of big animals and human beings.
Abu Tinagang married Dayang Liang. In the evening, Abu Tinang told his wife that it would be best that the hut be fortified with the trunks of banana trees and wooden posts. Abu Tinang started to fortify the hut while Saketum Indu Benda, Kelawah Besai Moa jar because Garuda would soon appear. Abu Tingagang was in the hut while Garuda ripped up the floorboards. However, he got his beak caught in the soft banana leaves. Then Abu Tinagang rushed out of his hiding place and slashed the great bird with his knife so it died. After Abu Tingang had slain the bird Dayang Liang was assured of his strength and felt he must be the son of a powerful man. She grew to love him more and more.
That night, Abu Tingang asked about his wife’s family. Dayang Laing said she was from a stone made by God and she had given birth to seven children at once, begotten by the wind god. When asked what had happened to them she told him they had become the seven stars of the Pleiades. These children I have borne have become the everlasting sign of heaven for when they are seen at the centre of the sky before daybreak, then the men on earth know it is time to plant padi (rice).
Abu Tingang wanted to return to his country because of the stench of the rotting Garuda bird. After a few miles, they heard a huge bird flying in the distance. Abu Tingang told his wife to hide in a cave because she was bright and could easily be seen by the bird. The bird alighted on the hut and saw its dead mate and then shrieked desolately away.
After they had travelled many miles they finally arrived at his parents’ place and they and their relatives were so glad to see such a beautiful wife. Abu Tingang told his family about his wife and asked them to accept her but they wanted to think it over. They all agreed and wanted to hold a wedding festival. Time passed and she gave birth to a son.
These are the lines of decent. Saliman begot Semarugam,Semarugan begot Sera Gindi, Sera Gindi begot Sema Ugang, Sema Ujang begot Sera Gindit,Sera Gindit begot Sera Gindah, begoy Pateh Rasiek, Pateh Rasiek befot Pateh Ayu, Pateh Ayu begot Pateh Gurang and Dayang Patri.
From Benedict Sandin Five Mythological Stories of the Iban Sarawak Museum Journal December, 1969
