Jamang ragrag -- The falling Overcoat
As a usual social visit, once or twice a year, the Baduy made a pilgrimage to the city of Jakarta. They went in a group and of course traveling on foot. One night, when I was just a small boy, surprised by the gathering of some strange people in front of my house, I asked my father who they were. My father told me that they were alien from the mount of Kendeng, to south of Banten Highland. This was my first encounter with the Baduy, the people of Kanekes to whom I call 'Baduy' now. As usual, they needed a transit night before they continued their travel to the city. That was why they visited us.
My father provided them a spacious place outside our house, which we called it 'amben' for the Baduy to fulfill their duty of sleeping. The house, being a traditional house of Banten, and like any other Sundanese traditional houses, it has floor about half meter high from the ground. The night was quite. So silent that we could only hear singing sound from 'Jangkrik' (Cricket) The conversation begun. "Ayah, rek ka mana?" asked my father.
"Kami rek ka kota," answered one of the Baduy. It might be the leader. These were just an exchanging hospitality. My father indeed knew where they were going to and the Baduy also understood that the question had not needed to be asked. But they answered anyway. Then the silent was going on. After a while, suddenly we heard a 'bump' sound.
My father asked, "Sawara naon eta?" (What sound was that?)
The Baduy said, "Naon ja, jamang kula ragrag" (It was just my overcoat felt down) "Pan ngagedeblug?" --This phrase I cannot translate into English. (How could it made such a bump sound?)
Innocently the Baduy replied, "Pan aya aingan! ( am in it!)