S A L I, I --Etnography Novel

S A L I

(The Story of a Woman Dani *)

By:

Dewi  linggasari

* A not for my dad, with love

Prologue

Gayatri stuck in the frozen air Baliem Valley. Her eyes stared straight ahead with a blank. Se was watching the tragedy of life, the end of an event when a woman trapped in a chain of problems, lost, and despair. Gayatri did not know exactly how long she stood on the brink of the river water is very deep. Snagged on rocks sali-female traditional dress Dani-waving in the wind blown. Gayatri was no longer moving clockwise, time stopped. Sali's already said everything, she did not need to answer, and no longer need to wonder. Everything is finished. But, if the memory of the woman she loved was over?

The young doctor was on her knees, grabbed sali, clutching her chest, her shoulders shook. She seemed to penetrate the middle of the hall, back to the past, to a time far. Far away ........

O N E

Long and silent night has passed. The morning sun Baliem Valley appears to be a giant glowing red ball that is driven enormously supreme power and bounce slowly into the sky. Mist churned Dani village like a flowing chiffon fabric, soft, and chaotic. The sunlight makes it appear as a fog curtain that kept moving and eventually all together. And mountain valley is shackle natural fortress layered frozen white fog. Then the forest with no deadline as broccoli garden planted early ancient times.

Dani settlement is a group silimo that far from each other. Silimo was fenced timber that serves as a protective humus on the edges. Inside are pilamo-honai male-female ebe-ai-honai  customary lies straight to the entrance. In the honai custom weapons and equipment stored in the form of war that must be kept out of reach of her hand. That said, the dirty blood of women who come always every month can cause it to lose prestige armor and can not be used to win a role in a fight againts your opponent. Therefore Dani woman was allowed to approach, especially war supplies. There was another in a simple building contained in silimo is the kitchen and pigsty. Honai Dani is a custom house shaped like a mushroom with wooden walls and thatched roofs. From a distance it looked like a bunch of ghetto fungus that grows in the rainy season on the sidelines shrubs.

Dani colony maintained in the cold. Dew still crystallizes at the end of the foliage, refract the seven colors of the rainbow. Silence and mute, was also looking for signs of life, except for a thin smoke rising slowly from the roof honai made of woven reeds. As the sun continues to soar, the atmosphere remained silent, thick fog rolling quickly surrounded the sun, nature seemed dark. In a honai looks of a woman lying in a weakened state. Her face turned pale like paper, she has captured gesture, that her days will not be long. Likewise unborn gene seven months in the womb. In a dream she had encountered children who had died. The boy waved her hand, handed Sali then take it away, through the tunnel of time, into another world altogether. In another world, everything is white. The woman did not feel anything anymore, the pain is also like a whip lash every day. And she felt calm.

"Mama ...." a smooth voice  awaken Aburah from her reverie. She stared at Liwa, her daughter with glaze. Her daughter was held sweet potatoes that had been burnt with her tiny hands. Suddenly Aburah regain a strength, pale lips smiled. Just a moment, hands Aburah too weak to accept the gift. She could only stare those eyes belong to Liwa nodes, so close that he could see the shadow self helpless scarecrow on a pair of her son's eyes. Nothing is more precious than the life of a mother, but the baby was born and then raised. Similarly Aburah. She still has the desire to raise the rest of Liwa adulthood later wed in a traditional ceremony awarding crowded by pigs from the men. But Aburah too weak to fulfill that desire. She remembered the Liwa old brother who has passed away, due to malaria, and the unborn baby. Aburah eyes became wet, she was never a good mother to her children. She never had a choice in her life.

Life is a defeat, even after he gave everything for the marriage. Having paid with the pigs on the wedding day, then a woman is a slave Dani. She had to work all day to feed. There was no time to rest, as well as when she is in a weakened state, because of the pregnancy. She had to keep working in the garden, chop firewood, so coals, and cook the sweet bi as a food ingredient. If there is no food, then Kugara going berserk and hit his wife.

After the hard work that was Aburah immeasurably tired, aching bones, her body shivering in a high fever and he could no longer stand. In these circumstances, it can only be declared sick and allowed to take  rest. It also i feel weak, but as long as she is still able to stand, she was still considered healthy and should still work.

"Mama, eat", Liwa feeding sweet potatoes into her mouth, but Aburah seem lifeless. She just chewed a bit then spit it out. Aburah was lying back, eyes closed. She felt there was big stone crushing her head, attached to a pair embers eyelids, and the fire burned his body heat. Aburah sali just wrapped around the waist in a topless. Sweat kept pouring stocky body, as a sign that she is struggling against the pain. Instant she opened her eyes, her eyes glazed as he stared at Liwa, the only one that can be raised.

Custom in this village to justify a widower who lost his wife, due to death, to marry the sister of his late wife. Thus, with the wife's family ties can continue. While his daughter would be a stepdaughter of her own siblings. That means Liwa not be raised by a woman who was not known. Given this Aburah feel boulder to rest her head became lighter during illness. She did not think about anything, except the fate of her son. Now, she has an answer. Aburah let go of burdens her mind and suddenly she experienced numbness.

"Mama got up ....", Liwa continue Aburah shoulders shaking. She did not have anything in this world except her mother. Aburah who guard since childhood, laid it on the camshaft-Dani-traditional bag and carry it where to go. Aburah always feeding, different kinds of crops and forest animals and fruits. And she continues to grow. The woman who became her patron that was now lying without motion and sound. Heart small girl whispered something scary.  Aburah continues to see the worry and anxiety that can not be controlled. She is still too kid to understand all of this.

On the other hand Aburah feel increasingly distant consciousness, her body seemed to float like a white mist that floats in a vacuum. She no longer felt the pain, because the burden of daily life continues to oppress. She felt so light as wadding which floated in the wind season. Available when suddenly a terrible force suck subtle body of the ruling of the whole life, her breath was wheezing. Just a few moments, because Aburah immediately saw her body on the floor honai weak, while she was hovering in the low ceiling. Aburah also tried to persuade the girl that Liwa stop to cry, but her voice could no longer be heard. She has been living in another world and could no longer speak to the people left behind. She was dead.

While voice wailed Liwa has called all members of relatives who came to see what had happened. Board Aburah still warm, despite her increasingly pale, her breathing stopped. Liwa gripped by the fear that there is no measure. Her mom has closed eyes for ever, she's too young to lose a shelter, but what power? While members of other relatives soon filled the honai, do the same thing, wailing. The silence in the village Dani was immediately turned into a cry of grief. The silence has been broken.

After the roar, then the bereaved relatives immediately rushed out to smear her face and body with mud as a sign of mourning. A member of the tribe has gone and will never come back again, leaving all who are still alive. Meanwhile, with howling cry soon Kugara very long. He is a men with tall and straight posture, and the whole hair-braid woven into small centipede. There is no dress worn as cover the body except koteka sticking protect pubic once symbolized masculinity.

The man was not able to protect her weak, she has lost a life. A woman who gave birth to her son, providing food, care for gardens and pigs, and splitting firewood. Kugara not sure, that he will be able to continue to live after death. He will never be able to do the work once completed Aburah. How can life be? Kugara really feel poor. He never realized that death was indirectly the result of his bad. That he is entitled to customary Aburah rule, because it has been paid by the pigs on the day of the marriage. He had bought a woman with a very expensive price. Just as every man in the village, he is entitled to enslave a married woman, even after she had been pregnant or had just given birth to her unborn child. Kugara too ignorant to understand the problem of what has happened to Aburah, so he should weep for her.

Kugara kept howling until the next day, when the people of the village began to troop to cut timber in the woods for burning ceremony. Finally arrived at the last moment when Aburah may appear intact human. The pyre was prepared. The debate over the lifetime of any errors Aburah been held, long hours to obtain concessions and agreements, the burning of the bodies could be done immediately. Firewood has been drafted high, the whole village was gathered in the courtyard silimo to participate in mourning expressed condolences. All work in the garden for a while left. There is no activity whatsoever in the village except the burning ceremony. Overall it was a mourning face of grief tears. Women are just wrapped around his waist Sali topless. While the men, all wearing penis gourds, dried pumpkin skin reddish colored, covering the body are very confidential sticking into the air.

Liwa corpse clutching Aburah, type woman who loved stretchered rollicking to the pile of wood ready for burning. She could not be abandoned, she burst into tears as the blades of bamboo continues swiped together, shattering eardrums. Liwa lost her footing and balance sway. When the body Aburah laid on the pyre, then the wood is turned on, the longer it grew, and thick smoke was billowing. The little girl was crying uncontrollably, she felt pain in the throat and dry sound. Combustion  Aburah body have burned anyway childhood and reason her innocent. "Mama do not go mama ....!" Liwa screams drowned in the roaring cry. The smell of charred flesh the burning meat began to smell, and eruption sound who brought disorder to the entire contents of the stomach, including branches that have not been born babies. More fires were kept burning merciless and black smoke is getting higher. The sky was getting dark.

Kugara kept howling and rolling around his face and body smeared with mud, it's hard to be recognized as a genuine person. While Aburah subtle bodies have floated without setting foot on land. Funeral pyre has burned roughly as ash body. She has properly in accordance with local custom, her soul became quiet. But the little girl crying stunned her. She continued to try to persuade and entertain Liwa, but her words are no longer able to hear, touch no longer be felt. She has been separated from the other world, human nature is not allowed to see or hear the words.

Finally blazing fire that was becoming increasingly smaller, then extinguished embers left. Aburah bodies just stayed white powder separated from the ashes and immediately stored in tubes. Liwa is now kneeling in front of white ash Aburah, left only moans stopped crying. She has run out of steam, noise, and power, because of the death. Liwa around the entire village was crowded together, she did not cry alone, but Liwa feel as if thrown in a vast meadow by herself. SHe did not get the strong hands that held her, when the cold wind hit, Liwa was shivering, the longer the stronger. And suddenly the little girl's sight is blurred, Liwa saw a white mist swirled around her, all pain forgotten. With the resignation Liwa flopped into mist, releasing burdens. The little girl was limp, she collapsed in front of the body bu Aburah.

Lapina, sister Aburah immediately embrace Liwa tiny body. She really felt pity to a little girl who had lost a mother. Premises death, then Lapina has the overall responsibility for nursing. Lapina hastily brought into honai Liwa and laid her near the fireplace. The young woman full body massage-sequence Liwa little girl woke up.

"Mama Aburah ...." Liwa whimpering sound.

"Mama Aburah has gone, do not you grieve, there is my mom's sister will take care of you", Lapina trying to entertain Liwa , she stared at the girl's eyes close. Her heart was cut when she found empty on a pair of eye preference nephew. Liwa does not say much, except for name-calling Aburah, but her eyes were empty enough paraphrase her, "Mama Aburah was calm, do not you crying, then her spirit can not fly to the sky, now go to sleep", Lapina take a piece of skin wood is very thin and dry then move on top of Liwa. As the cool breeze hit, Liwa was exhausted by it all, she slowly closed her eyes. Sadness and sorrow it brings awareness towards another world. An artificial life that appear without control and rejection. Soon the little girl fell asleep.

Lapina  leaned against the wall honai, her eyes watched the little girl who was lying peacefully in the dream. She remembered the words Aburah before her body burned and white ash. "If anything happens with me, I put Liwa on you. You take guard while she was still in the womb, then rocking when born. I do not have anyone else to keep my son, except yourself. "

Lapina too upset with Aburah words, so she just stared at her silent with all the question marks. "You heard me Lapina?" Aburah asked.

"I heard," Lapina said simply, then glances Aburah immediately closed her eyes with a sigh of relief, as from the gaze Mataya Lapina has confirmed her words. Lapina  not want to die, but who also can resist her destiny? Now Lapina should promise, graduated requests from people who are already dead. Well! She should keep the little girl Liwa.

***

Ahead of the new Liwa awake dark, dim light behind the clouds that will soon turn into black as a sign of how grim the next day the little girl. Beyond silence confine the whole valley. Sow the wind blows freezing atmosphere, breaking dry twigs. Not long after the rain had come down. Entire contents silimo honai immediate refuge in the respective managements. Lapina was alone with Liwa in honai women, young woman stretched out sweet potatoes that had been burned to the Liwa.

"Eat, this day you have not eaten anything."

Liwa initially refused to take it, but Lapina continued to persuade her. Liwa receiving gifts with weak yam. Suddenly her stomach was hungry, when she saw that the middle Lapina closed her eyes, then immediately Liwa sweet potato chews it greedily. "Water Lapina, I'm thirsty", Liwa whine, Lapina immediately handed the bag of water, so that the little girl had been silent.

The next day Liwa can just lie and lie down, she could not stand. Sadness has crippled the power of the little girl, she could not do anything except stare at the ceiling honai grimly. Lapina always keep home from the garden. Kugara visit Liwa in the honai, but the man could do anything, she was too upset with himself. While the situation gradually improved Liwa, Lapina continue to maintain and provide food for Liwa, so the girl regain her health.

After  Liwa get health, Lapina took her into the garden. 'You come with me to the garden? "Said Liwa persuade. Liwa not immediately respond, clear eyes looked straight face as if trying to gain certainty Lapina. When the innocent instinct of Liwa gets alerts on  Lapaina sincerity, then the little girl nodded, "Okay, I'm coming with you", they both go hand in hand towards family garden which is located not far from silimo, through the trail. Around the lane is thicket, overgrown wilderness rest undisturbed.

Liwa steeped in silence, she felt there was something strange about his residence. Green bushes and wilderness is a regular, as well as the silence was broken by the sound of jungle animals. This atmosphere has been fused in his life. But Liwa feel as though this forest became more quiet, she was walking with a woman who later gave birth have raising, but the woman who became her is not Aburah

"Let's hurry," Lapina interesting Liwa hand, she could feel the grief in the hearts of the little girl. Traditionally, it is responsible for it. "That garden is visible, you can play there," Lapina index  forward. The views Liwa follow the direction of the index Lapina and the little girl was smiling.

In the east the sky, the sun is still biased yellowish. Fleeing waved white silk curtains parted as if by the wisdom of the universe. The rest are green trees that enclose the valley with rows of hills. Lapina and Liwa leapfrog garden door carefully, and they are soon confronted with -manicured vegetable types. All around the garden are fence low with humus protection on it. Gardens should always be protected by a fence. Without the protective fence, the ghosts and evil spirits to come interfere, so that the plants in the garden will be small or die altogether.

Lapina put noken –traditional bag-- and immediately put to work caring for crops such as days past. The young woman who is new use Sali topless, so a pair of twin hills looked bare, like a challenge when it becomes shiny with sweat. Lapina face is still very young, she was not completely untouched by hardship. While Liwa just sit in silence under the shade of a tree,s he did not do anything but sit motionless without a whim. Fog cover looks, innocent girl.

Liwa start moving when she saw a purple butterfly with yellow dots on its wings, perched on a flower petal wild. Liwa attracted to him, but soon the butterfly flew away. Liwa go after it, but soon the butterfly flapping its wings with beautiful, away from the reach of small hands Liwa. The girl became exasperated, she continues to hunt without the weary, to the butterfly is soaring on a high branch. Liwa suddenly feel hungry, while the sun is getting higher and little boy to feel tired. From a distance Lapina occasional tantrum Liwa attention while continuing to work. She was happy, when Liwa looks fun chasing butterflies, forgetting for a moment her grief.

"Lapina, I'm hungry!" Liwa shouted from a distance, the cry Lapina be aware of fatigue. The young woman wiping sweat, continue work for a moment, then immediately ahead of Liwa with banana, papaya, and sweet potatoes on hand.

Breeze when the two of them eating crops. But papaya and bananas do not quite filling, so Lapina had lit a fire to burn it cook sweet potatoes in the hot ashes. She went back to work until the sun blazing and slipping slowly in the west.

Finally Lapina has filled diversified crops in the camshaft. She felt tired and soon gone immeasurably rested near Liwa. Sweet potato has been cooked in hot ashes, Liwa looks really gluttonous eating. She became full after a sip of water from the bag of pumpkin, as well as Lapina. "I want to play water Lapina," Liwa pleaded.

"Come on, I had to wash sweet potatoes this", Lapina noken packed contents, put the rope camshaft in the head, so that the entire weight of noken become heavy on his back. Both left the garden, toward the creek not far from silimo.

Liwa immediately laughed excitedly when they heard the sound of water splashing river. She took off and soon noken jumped into the water with the sound of crashing. The boy was playing water while cleaning the whole dirt on the body as well as possible, so that the body feels fresh. While Lapina immediately wash all crops, sweet potato was also a brilliant white color. Scorching sun, while the river water was cool and fresh. Wonder how long Liwa and Lapina fun with river water, but suddenly dusk had fallen in red color. The rainbow virtual curved in seven colors, as if the angel scarf caught in between clumps of mega and trees. Liwa has been put back Sali, she was plucking dude-paper flowers that grow freely in the bush. The flower was colored purple, yellow, orange, and pink with yellow anthers white. Flowers will be hung so that the center bud petals bloom in eternal. Dani people there who called the paper flower as a thousand flowers a day, because the flowers never wilt even after days of bloom.

"It was almost dark, get home, I'll come to disturb the demon child and you can be sick," Lapina was leaving.

"Wait a minute Lapina, I want to pick flowers that were there", Liwa refutes she headed paper flowers are located some distance on the brink. But Lapina immediately pulled her hand the little girl and took her back to silimo. She was really afraid of the dark as a source of origin of ghosts and evil spirits that could harm the girls.

"I like the paper flowers", Liwa still trying to provide resistance.

"Don’t you see, darkness is coming. In the dark ghosts will roam. They were happy children who are still young, let's go home ", Lapina accelerating pace. This time Liwa no longer fight, she was afraid of the evil spirits that always comes with dark.

The sunlight has fallen in red color, Lapina and Liwa climb silimo door. A flock of birds across the sky with the sound then silence. Lapina still have a job, feed the pigs after that she had to rest, a day made him very tired.

***

Kugara stone burned so long that the stones become very hot and whitish. Not far from where she burned the rock, he had dug a hole with male relatives of members of the other battery. It has been a long time he never gather with relatives that have spread to distant silimo. Today, after a period of mourning for Aburah's death finished, he had invited relatives to gather in custom stone fuels.

Lapina and women other women been picking crops in large quantities and washed with water to time. Today the atmosphere in the silimo becomes more crowded. Grief has passed and the situation returns to normal. Liwa is also no longer show signs of excessive grief, she always sticks to Lapina for, so that troubled her to return to a sense of calm.

Behavior Liwa and Lapina never go unnoticed Kugara. His eyes were always looking in the distance near and far, and can immediately obtain an answer from the heart worries, because death Aburah. Lapina has behaved as if Liwa is a biological child, love the child that looked so real. That means there is only one thing to be done to validate the relationship, he marrying Lapina.

Well, marrying Lapina. From behind the smoke Kugara  can continue to pay attention  Lapina. The young girl was put down as a base  grass in a hole dug. White stones were placed at the bottom of the hole with less wood as a tool, then different kinds of garden produce uniformly backfilled into the pit. After all garden produce into the pit, covered with hot rocks and grass, then everyone has to wait.

 Kugara still concerned with his bare chest. Her younger teens, it is a matchless charm, and a pair of twin hills sticking with Sali  the waist then behind Sali's sights. Kugara swallowed. He had to do for her baby something that deceased brother's. Custom in this village for marry justify a widower after his wife's sister died, it was she was still young. Kugara suddenly felt all the pain will heal Aburah death. Lapina!

When the hole was opened, the food inside is ripe and immediately issued with smoke still billowing taste and aroma of the issue. A woman in the red fruit has racked silimo (Pandamus sp) in such a way, then  blood-red sauce that is poured over vegetables. The food looked great in size to the distribution to the man, while the small ones are given to women and children. Peoples always put men who should be respected, so that they always get the best food.

Similarly Kugara, while eating a delicious meal, his eyes are always watching Lapina. In view Kugara, the girl suddenly turn as a wild flower that has bloomed full allure. He really could no longer control himself. Since Aburah death, he had to spend a freezing night in honai men. He could no longer stay in honai women, because the body is white as ash Aburah. Kugara still staring Lapina, while those involved in traditional stone burning fun conversation while eating a dish each. Similarly, Liwa, she continued to chew vegetables and pumpkins are ripe, leaning back on a warm body Lapina.

On the other hand, Lapina suddenly felt a pair of eyes that keeps an eye on. When gaze collided with a look Kugara, the young girl immediately dispose of view. She felt a thrill that can not be understood, and his face flushed. Kugara grin, he would get the girl. Definitely!

Custom roasted stone was finally finished, each person left the place while packing up leftovers. Crops are ripening by the hot rock that was said already. Kugara waiting for the atmosphere to be quiet, when he saw Lapina sitting alone, he immediately walked over.

"Lapina", Kugara sitting right face Lapina, he apart witnessed such a way youth Lapina, like fresh fruit that can be chewed.

"Why Kugara?" Lapina said, her eyes were clear and hold at the man in front of her as if he wants to see is her heart.

"You know, now that I'm a widower. My wife is gone, my daughter did not have a mother, you know, that as a man I can not take care of her. The period of mourning has been completed. It can not be forever without my wife and I suffer like this ", Kugara start talking.

"What do you mean Kugara?" Lapina said, her heart said, that Kugara wanted something very important from her.

"Customary we justify a man who lost his wife, was married to his brother. That means, it can be I would marry you, and can also be a mom of child Liwa  ", Kugara stare Lapina with pleading. "Remember, you do not have anyone else in this world, your mother's father was dead. You do not have any brothers. You just have me and Liwa ', Kugara speak carefully, he tried as much as possible to not hit Lapina and treats as his wife.

"I understand it's Kugara", Lapina replied slowly, her eyes staring away at the line of hills that seem layered in fog. It is part of the custom in this village. She also loves Liwa, but be wife of Kugara? Lapina was never a dream.

*Sali --Dani woman traditional dress

.....to be continued......