THE LEGEND of CRYING STONE

(folktale from West Kalimantan)

In a small village, a girl lives with her mother. The girl is very beautiful. Everyday she puts make up and wears her best !lothes. "he doesn#t like to help her mother work in a field. The girl is very la$y. %ne day, the mother asks the girl to a!!ompany her to go to the market to buy some food. &t first the girl refuses, but the mother persuades her by saying they are going to buy new !lothes. The girl finally agrees. 'ut she asks her mother to walk behind her. "he doesn#t want to walk side by side with her mother. &lthough her mother is very sad, she agrees to walk behind her daughter. %n the way to the market, everybody admires the girl#s beauty. They are also !urious. 'ehind the beautiful girl, there is an old woman with a simple dress. The girl and her mother look very different( )*ello, pretty lady. Who is the woman behind you+) asks them. ,"he is my servant,- answers the girl. The mother is very sad, but she doesn#t say anything. The girl and the mother meet other people. )*ello, beauty. Who is the woman behind you+) asks them again. &gain the girl answers that her mother is her servant. "he always says that her mother is her servant every time they meet people. &t last, the mother !annot hold the pain anymore. "he prays to .od to punish her daughter. .od answers her prayer. "lowly, the girl#s leg turns into stone. The pro!ess !ontinues to the upper part of the girl#s body. The girl is very pani!ky. )/other, please forgive me() she !ries and ask her mother to forgive her. 'ut it#s too late. *er whole body finally be!omes a big stone. 0ntil now people still !an see tears falling down the stone. 1eople then !all it the !rying stone or in Indonesian mean batu menangis.