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Folklore from West Java
Nyai Bagendit was a widow. She was the richest person in the village. She had a very big house filled with a lot of jewelry. She also had many servants working for her. Nyai Bagendit was also known for her bad attitude. She did not like to help others.
Whenever the villagers needed some money, they borrowed the money from her. However, when they returned it, the villagers had to pay double. If they were not able to return the debt, Nyi Bagedit would ask her servants to take the villagers belongings. Nyai Bagendit also hated beggars. She thought that beggars were lazy people. She never felt sorry to any beggars coming to her house.
So when the old beggar came to her house, Nyai Bagendit immediately to ask her to go.
"Go away you lazy old woman! Go out of my house!"
"Please, Nyai, give me some money or just give me some food. I'm so hungry," said the beggar.
"Food? You asked for food? This is my house not a restaurant. Go now! I don't want to see you here! Nyai Bagendit then threw a stone to the old beggar."
The old beggar was very sad.
She then said, "Nyai Bagedit, I know you are the richest person in this village. You have anything but you never help other people. You are not grateful to God. Wait for the punishment from God. You will be punished!"
The old beggar then left Nyai Bagedit's house.
"Ha ha ha! You are right. I'm the richest person here. So no one can punish me, not even God can punish me!" Nyai Bagendit was very arrogant.
Nyai Bagendit then went back to her big house. Not long after that, an earthquake happened. Her house fell down. Nyai Bagendit cried for help.
"Help me! Somebody please help me!" But nobody listened her crying for help.
Nobody in the village felt the earthquake. Amazingly, the earthquake only happened in Nyai Bagendit's house. The land was opened. It was so big that the entire Nyai Bagendit's house, and all her wealth were gone.
The villagers just watch what happened to Nyai Bagendit and her house. They were amazed. They knew that God punished Nyai Bagendit for behaving badly and never helped other people.
Slowly, the place where Nyai Bagedit's house stood became a lake. Since then, people named the lake as Situ Bagendit It means Lake of Bagendit. ***
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