THE LEGEND OF BANYUWANGI

Long time ago Banyuwangi was called Blambangan. It was a kingdom under a wise king who had a handsome and clever son.Raden Banterang was his name. He liked hunting very much. He often went to forest around Blambangan to hunt for animals. One day when he was in a forest he saw a deer. He chased it and the deer ran deeper into the forest.Unfortunately he lost the deer. As he took a rest under a big banyan tree suddenly a lovely lady appeared in front of him. Raden Banterang was very surprised to see a beautiful girl alone in the forest. So he asked her. Her name is Surati,she is a princess, the daughter of the king of Klungkung. Surati asked help to raden banterang.

There was a rebellion in Klungkung. The rebel killed her father but she could escape. So Raden Banterang will protect her.Then Raden Banterang took Surati home. He fell in love with her and then several months later he married her. One day when Surati was in the street he met a man. The man called her. she was surprised to realize that the man was her brother Rupaksa. Rupaksa told her that it was Raden Banterang who killed their father. He came to Blambangan to take revenge and asked surati to join him.

Surati was shocked but she refused to join. But she not sure. Raden Banterang is now her husband.As a good wife she will never betray him. It is her duty to serve him.Rupaksa was disappointed with her sister. He was also very angry to her.After that Rupaksa gave his head dress to his sister Surati. To respect her older brother Surati put it under her pillow. Several days later Raden Banterang was hunting in a forest when he met a man. Then he said something.

'Your life is in danger. Someone has an evil intention to you'

'Who is he?'

"Your wife Surati'

"Surati? How do you know?'

'I am a priest. I have clear spiritual vision. I just want to save you. Search her room. If you find a head dress under her pillow then my words are correct. It is from a man who will help her kill you'

'Thank you your Holiness'

Raden Banterang was shocked. He was very angry to his wife then he immediately went home. When he got to the palace he immediately searched Surati's bed room. As he found the head dress under her pillow he was sure that the man was right.

Than Surati was shocked and cried.

'It is my brother's head dress. I met him several days ago when you went hunting. He gave me his head dress and told me to put it under my pillow. So I put it there to respect him. It is him who want to kill you, not me'

But Raden Banterang did not trust her. He gave her a death sentence. He took his wife to a river bank as he would stab his wife and throw her body into the river.

'Before I die, let me say a few words'

'Please do'

'After I die, just throw my body into the river. If the water become dirty and smelly, it means that I am guilty. But if the water become clear and fragrance come out of it, it means that I am innocence'.

Then as Raden Banterang would stab her wife with a kris Surati threw herself into the river. Amazingly the water became clear and fragrance came out of it. Surati was innocent! Raden Banterang regretted his emotional behavior. Since then on he changed the name of his kingdom into Banyuwangi. Banyu means water and Wangi menas fragrance.

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