Story of Bali, Indonesia

The king, who had promised her to Tjoepak, said that she must marry him, ugly though he was. But Moestikan wept and declared she would only marry the strongest man in fight, be his name Mantri Anom or any other name. So all the young men were called together to fight for the princess. But though they all fought together against Tjoepak no one could beat him. Then Grantang asked for the honor of fighting with Mantri Anom, and Tjoepak, who did not recognize him, mocked his gentleness and called boastfully to the princess to come and see the fight. At first Grantang gave way and Tjoepak swelled still more with pride. Then Grantang put forth all his strength, and easily defeated Tjoepak, who was banished to Boegboeg Besi, while the people, who all loved Grantang, led him rejoicing to the palace with Moestikan Ing Daha.

In all except one village of cast Bali, which preserves the curious version, alluded to on a previous page, the story of Tjoepak ends here, and only a very small part of it is acted in the dance-drama. Before giving its continuation we will try to give an idea of its presentation on the stage. It begins with the lamentation of the princess over her forthcoming marriage with Tjoepak (she has just returned from visiting Grantang in the fisherman's house). After the usual entry of the tjondong, announcing the arrival of her mistress while she winds slowly over the stage, the princess herself appears, clinging to the umbrellas which here signify the portals of the palace, and moves deliberately forward with swaying gait, swinging her brilliant train in the style of a heroine in Gamboeh or ardja. She weeps, and is consoled by the tjondong with tender, forward-bending movements.

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