Princess Silagondo, Maindoka and Buntalo Country

 

Every region in the archipelago certainly has folklore in the form of myths, legends, and sagas that are told from generation to generation. However, what is interesting about the Bolaang Mongondow folklore that I have brought up is because the plot is contained in a colonial manuscript entitled "Nederlandsche Zendling Genootschap".

This archive is a collection of writings contributing to knowledge about zending, language, region and culture in the Dutch East Indies, which was published in Roterdam in 1867 by M. Wyt and Zonen.

Interestingly, in this archive there are many folk tales that were once told by my grandfather when he was still alive, Al-Fatiha, to him. The story that I once thought was just a lullaby, now seems to be part of historical fact because it is no longer a myth or legend, but an 'oral tradition' that can be used as a supporting source for critical historical research.

Actually, there is a lot of oral tradition in the colonial manuscripts above. However, on this occasion I will only try to interpret the story about Princess Silagondo, Maindoka and Negeri Buntalo. At another time I will share other stories in future posts.

Boki' ​​Silagondo
The beautiful princess was named Silagondo. She married Jajubangkai, a royal son of Dumoga tudu Bumbungon, namely Punu Mokodoludut. Jajubangkai inherited the kepunuan throne after Mokodoludud's father.

After marrying Princess Silagondo, they then lived in Boentalo, a country on top of a mountain.

Princess Silagondo had a large and agile dog. His name is Maindoka who is good at hunting forest cows (wild boar animals, namely antelopes) and utans (wild boars). When the princess wanted a cow or a wild boar, she simply said to her dog, Maindoka, “I want to eat a wild boar.
So the dog will go into the forest and will not return, unless he brings what his master wants.

Everyone was amazed when they learned of Maindoka's greatness, and wanted to own it, including the Spanish, who at that time often came to Boentalo to trade.

They tried hard to get Maindoka. They seduce Silagondo by offering many good things and teasing him every day in order to get his love (Maindoka).

Finally, these endless requests began to make Princess Siagondo anxious. The princess became afraid, and no longer dared to refuse the request of the mighty Spaniard, so her beloved animal was reluctantly sold as soon as the ship sailed.

Maindoka jumped onto the deck, crying, looking at the fortress on land, which slowly disappeared from sight. Suddenly Maindoka jumped into the sea and swam back to his mistress Princess Silagondo.

Conflict with Spain
A year later the Spaniards returned to claim the dog. But this time the princess refused. The Spanish threatened Silagondo with war.

The princess then looks for a way to free herself from these dangerous visitors. He prepared a large meal, then kindly invited in the Spaniards who did not suspect that the meal had been poisoned so that some of the greedy ones ended up dying.

Most of them were lying on the ground because they were in severe pain. Among them only a few survived. As for those who have not eaten, immediately return to the ship. Turning the wheel looking for the direction where they would take their people who were sick from the food.

As they passed they shot Boentalo in a terrible way. The people and the land were destroyed, with several cracks in the brown spots of rock on the mountaintop, said to be traces of bombing that persist to this day.

Suddenly Jajoebangkai and his wife Putri Silagondo mysteriously disappeared. The remaining five Boentalo families fled to the Lombagiu people. There they finally settled. The Spanish then left the bay, and since then have not come to trade again in the Boentalo area.

It is also said that there at the foot of Boentalo floats a small island. Silagondo's daughter tends to go out every evening to make thread. After getting a sufficient amount of thread, he rowed to the island of Pogogabola near Pulau Tiga, to weave a sarong.

Jajubangkai and Putri Silagondo were blessed with two sons, namely Kinalang Damopolii and Makapo and a daughter named Pinomuka. Of the three, it was Kinalang or Damopolii who was later appointed Punu Molantud to replace his father as leader of the Bolaang Mongondow kingdom.