A Balinese Folktale: Sampik and Sentai
Sunday, June 10th, 2007 by Sidarta WijayaOnce upon a time there was a girl named Sentai. She asked her parent to send her to school at Wencunikuta. They could not bear to part from her, for she was the joy of the home. But she begged so hard that at last they consented, and she gave them her sash by which they might know whether she were alive or dead. So long as it remained whole, she was in good health; but if it went to pieces they would know she was dead. Then she cut off her hair and dressed herself as a boy, and everyone said it suited her beautifully.
She jumped into her car, and set off to school. On the way she met a very attractive youth called Sampik. He was also going to school at Wencunikuta, so she took him along with her. They are both admitted by the teacher and took a room together in the town. Sampik was still imagining her to be a boy. They put to a bolster down in the middle of the bad, and agree that if either of them put a leg across he must pay a fine. Sentai had to pay very often.
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