Datuk Darah Putih

Once upon a time, the Dutch colonial government was going to attack Jambi Kingdom with the intention to exploit the natural resources in the Land of Jambi. However, the Dutch‘s efforts were totally failure. The Dutch could not even reach the Kingdom. The Kingdom‘s warriors were able to repulse the Dutch from the Land of Jambi. There was a man playing important role in the struggle to defend the authority of Jambi Kingdom over the Land of Jambi.

The man was Datuk Darah Putih. He was a hulubalang (war commander) of Jambi Kingdom. He was a brave, honest, powerful, and intelligent war commander. With his distinguishing magical powers, the war commander and his warriors were able to chase away the Dutch from the Land of Jambi

How did he repulse the Dutch? Here is the story about Datuk Darah Putih.

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In the Land of Jambi (now the province of Jambi, Indonesia) there was a Kingdom, which later on is known as Jambi Kingdom. The King of Jambi Kingdom had a hulubalang (war commander) named Datuk Darah Putih. He had white blood cells (Leukocytes), thus people called him Datuk Darah Putih; “darah putih” means “white blood” and “datuk” is a title for prominent figure in the Malay people society.

Most people at the time noticed him as a brave, honest, and intelligent man who had the distinguishing magical powers. People took a respect highly on him because he was a figure with a brilliant leadership style. He was a good problem solver and an obedient man.

One day, the King of Jambi Kingdom summoned him to seek for several ordinary royal troops that would be appointed as the primary royal warriors.

 “O Datuk! This time I want you to select several ordinary royal troops to be assigned as the primary royal warriors. I want you to seek for several ordinary royal troops who are clever, honest, loyal, and hard-working. After that, I likewise want you to train them to be the best royal warriors,” the King summoned.

“With pleasure I will my King,” Datuk responded to the King‘s summon.

Selecting several ordinary royal troops was not a serious problem for Datuk. He had already familiar with ordinary royal troops as he had sufficient experience getting along with them in wars.

In several days, Datuk had chosen several best troops after a prolonged scrutiny upon the entire ordinary royal troops. Then, he trained them seriously until their capabilities were almost the same as their commander, Datuk Darah Putih.

It was about a year they were trained hard. They had become the best royal warriors of Jambi Kingdom now.

All of sudden, the King of Jambi Kingdom was shocked to hear a report from the Kingdom‘s envoy. The envoy reported that there would be attack from the Dutch to the Kingdom because some other regions in the Malay Archipelago had been successfully conquered. Perhaps, that was the time for the Dutch to occupy the Land of Jambi.

 “My King, our Kingdom might be in a very critical situation since the Dutch colonials are moving forwards to our country. They are now sailing over the sea and will be arriving at the harbour in just several days,” a spy reported to the King.

Hearing that report, the King walked back and forth for a moment. He was trying to seek a way to face the coming Dutch‘s attack.

 “Mmm…I know they want to occupy this country. It‘s been long time they have targeted this country for abundant natural resources borne within this country,” the King mumbled.

“Therefore, what can we do our my King?” a royal servant asked the King.

“Wait a minute! You said they are sailing over the ocean now, aren‘t you? It means that they will certainly pass by the Strait of Berhala,” the King assessed.

“Does it mean that you want us to blockade them on the Strait of Berhala?” Datuk Darah Putih guessed.

“You are right Datuk! I hereby summon you and the best royal warriors and all ordinary royal troops to blockade them at dawn in the harbour,” the King summoned.

“With pleasure we will my King,” Datuk answered.

Datuk Darah Putih then ordered his troops to make thorough preparation for blockading the Dutch. They were asked to gather a number of war equipments such as swords, spears, and Krisses. They, likewise, had to stock themselves with abundant foods during the settlement in Berhala Island, a place where the Dutch was predicted would anchor.

All preparation had been done as well as the war equipments that had been available. While some ordinary royal troops kept guarding the Kingdom from any unpredictable attack, Datuk Darah Putih and the best royal warriors got home from a moment to take a rest. He went home and met his dearly beloved wife who was in eight months pregnancy.

 “Honey, how is the condition of your pregnancy? Is it OK so far?” Datuk asked.

“She is ok now honey. I wish I could give birth smoothly and safely someday,” the wife answered.

“Honey, I will be having a war in the next several days. Together with all royal troops and best soldiers, the King appointed me to blockade the Dutch that will be arriving at this country by passing through the Strait of Berhala. Take care of our kid very genuinely,” Datuk wished to his wife.

“Of course I will honey. If I give birth to a boy, I wish he would inherit his father‘s characteristics,” she said.

In the coming day, Datuk, along with the best royal warriors and ordinary royal troops, started leaving the Kingdom. Came along with them were their families, including Datuk‘s family likewise was there. No tears falling down from their faces at the time. Before departing the harbour, Datuk recited a pantun dedicated to his beloved wife who was standing next to the King.

 “Be careful at all times honey. I will miss you everyday. Don‘t forget to be right back after defeating them!” the wife said.

“I will be back soon after the mission have completed. I promise to bring a golden victory for this country. You can rely on me,” Datuk replied while kissing the stomach of his wife.

I a few moments, three jongkong (a local term for dugout canoe) anchored to the harbour. Those jongkong were used to carry the best royal warriors and ordinary royal troops to cross over the Strait of Berhala. It was seen from afar they waved to their families on the harbour.

After arriving at the island, Datuk Darah Putih headed a deliberation drawing up the best strategy for defending the Land of Jambi from the Dutch‘s occupation. They built big fortress and several checkpoints around the island of Berhala. They anchored the jongkongs at the coral reefs along the beach so that the Dutch could not destroy the only transportation vehicles to cross over the Strait of Berhala.

While waiting for the Dutch‘s arrival at the island, some ordinary royal troops monitored the area while Datuk strengthened the best royal warriors. In the next day, several boats of the Dutch colonials were seen to sail over the ocean, almost entering the Strait of Berhala.

“O Datuk, the Dutch are moving towards us now, they are getting closer to us,” an ordinary royal troop reported to the war commander Datuk Darah Putih.

“Now is the time to prove our dedication to the King and the Land of Jambi. Everybody! Now move to your positions and do your own duties!” Datuk burned the spirit of every single soldier taking part in the war.

All ordinary royal troops and the best royal warriors moved to the positions where they had to be in. Some of them climbed the jongkongs‘ stakes to monitor the Dutch. The Dutch was entering the Strait of Berhala, and the jongkongs likewise moved closer to the Dutch ship. All soldiers and troops, including Datuk, jumped out to the Dutch ship and started fighting to defend the homeland.

The best royal warriors and ordinary royal troops began swinging their swords, Krisses, and stabbed the Dutch troops with spears on their hands. The Dutch troops got totally panic and had no time to use their guns. There was no another choice, the Dutch troops also used the swords on their hands to balance Jambi Kingdom‘s attack. Finally, no one the Dutchman was safe. The Jambi Kingdom, under the command of Datuk Darah Putih, could appear as the winner over the Dutch finally.

From Jambi Kingdom, only few ordinary royal troops were died. All the best royal warriors were safe as well as their commanders, Datuk Darah Putih. Before going back to the Kingdom, they burned the Dutch ship and seized a number of war equipments like: guns, cannons, and swords. After arriving at Berhala Island, they celebrated the victory over the Dutch.

“Datuk! I think we must go to the Kingdom and report this to the King,” a soldier said.

“You have to know that this is not the end,” Datuk‘s remark.

“What do you mean? All the Dutchmen had been killed. Is there anything else should we be waited for?” the soldier asked.

“You‘re right we had defeated them in this moment. But the Dutch troops today were just a few. In case of the Dutch colonial government heard this, there will be more troops and ships that come to the island as the revenge,” Datuk wisely told the soldier.

“So what should we do now?” the soldier quizzed.

“Yeah! Should we wait for the Dutch in this island, Datuk?” another soldier asked.

“You‘re right! The Dutch will come here by sailing over the ocean passing through the strait, in three days. Thus, right now! Let‘s make a through preparation because they will bring more ships and troops,” Datuk‘s remark.

Datuk‘s assessment came true. Three days after defeating the Dutch in the Strait of Berhala, the Dutch colonial government sent more troops and ships to Berhala Island. However, Datuk and all royal soldiers did not want to surrender after knowing the amount of the Dutch‘s troops and ships. Datuk then ordered his soldiers to move to the positions where they were assigned.

“For our country….for our descendants…., let‘s face the Dutch due to the last blood! Never give up!” Datuk tried to burn the soldiers‘ spirits.

Both ordinary royal troops and the best royal warriors, under the command of Datuk Darah Putih, then quickly moved to their positions that had been set as such a day before. They jumped into the jongkongs and some others, climbed to the stakes monitoring the Dutch.

The fight was started. The Jambi Kingdom‘s jongkongs moved closer to the Dutch ships. The royal soldiers jumped to the Dutch ships as well. The royal soldiers were seemingly unable to face the Dutch troops that were bigger in amount than the Jambi‘s. Worse, a Jambi‘s troop had to fight against two, even three, Dutch troops.

In the deck of a Dutch‘s ship, Datuk Darah Putih was fighting against three Dutchmen. In a short, one f the Dutchmen swung a sword to Datuk‘s neck. His white blood spouted; but he could still fight. Then, when the wound got worse, he asked for help from one of his soldiers.

“Take me back, and have the others keep fighting against them. Order the others not to give up before the victory comes to us!” Datuk said to the soldier.

A soldier then brought his commander to Berhalah Island for medical treatment. After reaching the island, the soldier tried to heal Datuk‘s wound but the white blood kept spouting from Datuk‘s neck.

“Would you mind searching for sengkalan stone to cover this wound?” Datuk asked the soldier.

“Ok I will Sir,” the soldier said.

Then, the soldier immediately searched for sengkalan stone around the location. After finding the stone, he went back to his commander and gave it to him. Datuk then tried to cover the wound by gluing the stone to the wound. All of sudden, the white blood stopped spouting from his neck.

Datuk Darah Putih felt fresh again and woke up from leaning upon. He run fast to the jongkongs and sailed over the strait to get closer to the Dutch.

“Thank you very much soldier! Let‘s move towards the Dutch‘s ships and face them fiercely,” Datuk said.

Though suffered from serious wound, Datuk forced himself to head a fierce attack against the Dutch. Even more, he seemed stronger than before. More Dutchmen got wound and died upon Datuk‘s sword. Knowing their commander got heal and was able to join the fight again, all the royal soldiers seemed more powerful. Finally, they could repulse the Dutch and all the Dutchmen were eradicated.

“Hooray…hooray…! We win!” all the royal troops shouted happily.

However, there was a man who was unable to join the victory celebration at the time. Datuk Darah Putih got hurt very seriously. Several troops brought him to the base in the island of Berhala and made some medical treatment for him. They decided to sail across the strait and back to the Kingdom in the next day.

A day after defeating the Dutch, the entourage of Jambi Kingdom, which consisted of ordinary royal troops, the best royal warriors, and Datuk Darah Putih went back to the Kingdom. The entourage was welcomed yearningly by their families at the harbour. Came also amongst them was the wife of Datuk Darah Putih who was carrying a baby. Knowing her husband got serious wound, she then moved quickly to her husband to check his condition.

“Honey, I gave birth to a handsome boy two days ago. He is as handsome as you,” the wife said.

With his remaining energy, Datuk tried to carry his baby and kissed him in full affection.

“Take care very attentively our son honey,” Datuk asked.

“Of course, I will,” the wife answered.

After that, Datuk Darah Putih took a sit on the floor in his home. He laid down on the floor and closed his eyes. All of sudden, Datuk passed away in peace. Nothing could do, it has been God‘s fate for Datuk‘s family. The wife could only give up to the God‘s fate.

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Here is the story of Datuk Darah Putih that is originally from Jambi Province, Indonesia. It can be categorized as a myth bearing several moralistic messages within. One of the messages is the urgency of good leadership. The figure Datuk Darah Putih is described as a figure who was able to burn the spirit of every single royal soldier. Likewise, he was a good war commander who had exemplary behaviour for his soldiers and troops. That is why; both ordinary royal troops and the best royal warriors took a deep respect over him. In addition, though he got serious wound, he forced himself to lead the war to stabilize the troops‘ spirits after knowing the amount of Dutch troops that was bigger than Jambi‘s.

Amongst the Malay people, good leadership is an important factor to determine a harmony within society. Hence, the Malay chooses a person who can cope with the complex problems in society. A good leader is a leader who can guide, save, guard, and give guidance to his people (Tennas Effendy; 2006). In his book entitled Tunjuk Ajar Melayu published by Balai Kajian dan Pengembangan Budaya Melayu (the Center for Research and Development of Malay Culture, Tenas Effendy mentions several criteria of a good leader within a pantun as follow:

yang dikatakan pemimpin,
mau manampin tahan berlenjin
mau bersakit tahan bersempit
mau berteruk tahan terpuruk
mau berhimpit tahan belengit
mau bersusah tahan berlelah
mau berpenat tahan bertenat
mau berkubang tahan bergumbang
mau bertungkus lumus tahan tertumus
mau ke tengah tahan menepi
mau bersusah tahan merugi

Syamsuni (sas/106/10-08)

Translated by Irfan Nugroho (ter/79/11-08)

References:

• Kaslani. 1998. Cerita Rakyat dari Jambi 2. Yogyakarta: Yayasan Pustaka Nusatama.
• Anonim. “Jambi”, (http://id.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jambi, diakses tanggal 24 Oktober 2008).
• Effendy, Tenas. 2006. Tunjuk Ajar Melayu. Yogyakarta: Balai Kajian dan Pengembangan Budaya Melayu bekerja sama dengan AdiCita Karya Nusa.

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