The Orang Utan and the Jew's Harp (Kogiu om Bungkau)

In the local language of the Kadazandusun, the orang utan is also know as kogiu which only slightly smaller than the gorilla. These creatures can be found on two islands only: Borneo and Sumatera.

Once upon a time, there lived a hunter who is fond of playing a musical instrument locally known as the bungkau or in English, Jew's Harp. He took it with him wherever he went. One fine day, he saw a large kogiu sitting high up on a tree. Without hesitation, he took his blowpipe and shot darts laced with poison at the kogiu. Unfortunately, the kogiu was too high up the tree for the poisonous darts to reach.

The hunter sat down and thought of an idea. His bungkau! He took it out and played it. The kogiu, who have never heard or seen such instrument, became fascinated by the siren-like music that he climbed own a little to hear the music better. The hunter noticed this but continued on to play the bungkau. The kogiu moved closer and more closer to the ground that when it got within the range of the blowpipe, the hunter shot 51 darts at the kogiu. The kogiu became dizzy, lost its grip and fell dead into the Liwatong Kadiu River near Ulu Malagatan.

The kogiu was carried by the hunter to the village and swore loudly, "Any kogiu that comes close to the areas where the bungkau is being played will follow the same fate as this dead kogiu."

From that very day onwards, the kogiu are always afraid of bungkau music.


(Narrated by KK Jabil bin Bahiri)
Source: Animal Tales of Sabah, P.S. Shim