LAKE TOBA

LAKE TOBA


Once upon a time there was a man living in the area of the present day Danau Toba (Lake Toba). He lived in a simple hut in a farming field, did some gardening and fishing for his daily life. One day he caught a big golden fish in his trap. It was the biggest catch he ever had in his life. Back home this fish turned into a beautiful princess. He felt in love with her and proposed her to be his wife. She said yes with one condition... the man had to promise not to tell a soul about the secret that she was once a fish, otherwise there would be a huge disaster. The man made the deal and they got married and had a daughter. Few years later, this daughter would help bringing lunch to her father out in the fields. One day, this daughter was so hungry and she ate his father's lunch. He found out and got furious, and shouted "You damned daughter of a fish". The daughter ran home and asked her mother. The mother started crying, felt sad that her husband had broke his promise. She told her daughter to run up the hills because a huge disaster was about to come. When her daughter left, she prayed. Soon there was a big earthquake followed by non-stop pouring rain. The princess also ran from the house, and each footprint she left became a natural spring. The whole area got flooded and became Lake Toba. The princess turned into a fish again and the man became the island of Samosir (the big island in the middle of Lake Toba).

Dahulu kala ada seorang laki-laki yang hidup di daerah yang sekarang disebut Danau Toba. Dia hidupsederhana di pertanian, berkebun, dan memancing untuk kebutuhan sehari-harinya. Suatu hari dia menangkap seekor ikan mas besar di perangkapnya. Ikan itu adalah tangkapan terbesar yang pernah dia tangkap sepanjang hidupnya.
Saat di rumah, ikan itu berubah menjadi putri cantik. Dia jatuh cinta dengan putri itu dan melamarnya. Putri setuju dengan satu syarat yaitu lelaki itu berjanji tidak mengatakan rahasia bahwa putri dulunya ikan, atau akan ada bencana besar. Laki-laki itu setuju dan mereka menikah dan mempunyai anak prempuan.
Beberapa tahun kemudian, anak peremuanitu membawakan makan siang untuk ayahnya di sawah. Suatu hari, anak perempuan itu sangatlapar dan memakan makan siang ayahnya. Ayahnya tahu dan sangat marah sehingga berteriak “Dasar anak ikan”.
Anak perempuan itu lair ke rumah dan mengadu kepada ibunya. Ibunya mulai menangis, merasa sedih karena suaminya melanggar janjinya. Dia berkata kepada anaknya untuk lari ke bukit karena akan datang bencana besar. Ketika anaknya pergi, ibunya berdoa. Setelah itu datang empa bumi yang besar dan hujan terus-menerus. Putri juga lari dari rumah, dan setiap jejaknya menjadi bersemi. Seluruh daerah itu banjir dan menjadi Danau Toba. Putri menjadi ikan lagi dan laki-laki menjadi pulau Samosir (pulau besar di tengah Danau Toba).

ANDRIAS PRADAH H.
XII IPA3/35