Saïdyah’s father had a buffalo with which he worked his field. After this buffalo had been taken from him by the District-Head of Parang-Koodyang, he was full of sadness, and never spoke a word for many days. For ploughing-time was drawing near, and it was to be feared that if the rice-field was not prepared early, seeding-time also would pass by, and in the end there would be no paddy to cut and store in the shed of the house.
I must here remark, for readers who know Java but do not know Bantam, that in this residency personal landownership exists, which is not the case elsewhere. Saïdyah’s father then was greatly distressed. He feared that his wife would lack rice, and also Saïdyah, who was still a child, and the younger brothers and sisters of Saïdyah.
Also the District-Head would doubtless cite him before the Assistant-Resident if he were behindhand in paying his land-rent, for there is a penalty for this.
Then Saïdyah’s father took a dagger which was an heirloom from his father. The dagger was not very beautiful, but there were silver bands round the sheath, and also on the point of the sheath a small silver plate. He sold this dagger to a Chinaman who lived in the chief township, and came home with twenty-four guilders, which is two pounds of English money, for which sum he bought another buffalo.
Saïdyah, who was then about seven years old, soon contracted a friendship with the new buffalo. Not inadvisedly do I say “friendship,” for it is indeed touching to see how the Javanese buffalo becomes attached to the little boy that watches and takes care of him. The strong animal willingly bows his heavy head to right or
245
