Lembing Awang Pulang Ka Dayang

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I have to admit that I do not really like love story. But this, this classic novel is very irresistible for me as I have read this novel since I was in primary.

Lembing Awang Pulang Ke Dayang, a story set around Muar is about two love birds. Dayang came from a rich family and those who want to marry her must prepare specific gifts and at that time it is considered as expensive. Those gifts (hantaran) are
“Pĕrbĕlanjaan-nya tiga ratus tujoh puloh dan tujoh duit. Pĕngiring-nya sĕrba lĕngkap kain Mastuli siap dĕngan kain baju dan tudong yang bĕrwarna kuning tĕlor…”

Actually, up till now I do not know how kain Mastuli look alike. Can anybody tell me? So, back to the story. Since Awang’s mother insisted Awang to marry Dayang, Awang had to travel to collect money and also to buy kain Mastuli. He faced a lot of obstacles. In one of the challenges, he played chess with a prince. As he won the game, he was awarded with a pair of lembing (spear). Lembing jantan and lembing betina (Male and female spears). However, these lembing wasn’t the actual match, therefore, lembing betina will cry whenever it is placed next to the lembing jantan.

Okay, to cut the story short, Awang didn’t come back as promised, and Dayang’s family couldn’t wait anymore. One of Awang’s challengers was Bachok, seek Dayang’s hand and her family agreed to accept him.

Unfortunately, a day before Dayang’s ceremony, Awang arrived. When Dayang was about to bersanding with Bachok, Awang appeared and kill Bachok using lembing betina. According to the story, the first version was Awang run amok and kill 99 people and the last person was Dayang’s father. The second version was, the lembing itself moved from one person to another and killed 99 people. The last person killed by the lembing was Dayang’s father too. However, the lembing only killed man.

Dayang’s father gave the lembing to her and said,
“Nah, tĕrima-lah lĕmbing Awang ini ku pulangkan kapada kau, Dayang”
After that, he died.

Actually, not only the storyline that make me attracted to this novel. The main reason actually is because of the patun. Oh, I love all those pantun in this novel. Nevertheless, my favourite is

Nyior gading tinggi mahligai,
Saying kĕtupat bĕrisi inti,
Hanchor daging tulang bĕrchĕrai,

Bĕlum dapat tidak bĕrhĕnti

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