The story of Baribis Village, the Shade of a Deer in the Wilderness of Tamarind Trees

Baribis village was previously called Dukuh Asem. This hamlet was a favorite location for civil servants of the Cirebon Sultanate to hunt deer.

FRANSISKUS WISNU WARDHANA DANY

One of the hills in Baribis Village, Cigasong District, Majalengka Regency, West Java, on Sunday (5/19/2024). The exposure on this hill is likely to indicate traces of fault activity.

Baribis Fault immediately comes to mind when you set foot in Baribis Village, Cigasong District, Majalengka Regency, West Java. This village, which is 6.3 km from the city center, consists of rice fields, limestone hills and forests.

There are at least two versions of the origins of the village from the accounts of residents or village officials. Both are not directly related to faults or earthquakes. However, there is a collective memory and local wisdom about earthquakes in the village.

The Baribis Fault expedition team set foot in Baribis Village, Sunday (19/5/2024) afternoon. First the team explored three rock outcrops (outcrops) around the village. To the naked eye, there are no streaks on the rock surface as a sign of fault activity. However, further research is needed to confirm this.

From there, the journey continues to find out the origins of the village or collective memories and local wisdom, especially regarding earthquakes.

"Parents said, this village used to be surrounded by hills," said Baribis Village Head Abdul Karim.

Abdul refers to two hand-written notes from village elders or "kuwu" (village head). These Indonesian-language notes contain family lineage, the "kuwu" (village head) from past to present, interviews with elders about the village over time, religious teachings, and more.

FRANSISKUS WISNU WARDHANA DANY

Notes about Baribis Village, Cigasong District, Majalengka Regency, West Java, Sunday (19/5/2024).

Once the area was called Dukuh Asem. The region was a vast forest with many tamarind trees. In this forest, there were also many deer and other game animals.

Such conditions are highly sought after by hunters or officials of the Cirebon Sultanate. One of them is Raden Djaya Wisaya, who was assigned to promote religion as well as expand the Sultan's government.

Raden Djaya Wisaya and his wife, Nyi Antasari Manik, are comfortable living in Dukuh Asem. The couple, who originally come from Brebes, Central Java, have decided to settle there.

With the permission of the Cirebon Sultanate, Raden Djaya Wisaya became the first village chief in 1302 AD. He led 224 residents who had already been living in Dukuh Asem.

"In the two records, there is no explanation of what Baribis is. It is possible that the name Dukuh Asem was changed to Baribis because Raden and his wife are from Brebes, so it is easier to pronounce," he said.

An explanation of Baribis is contained in Indonesian intangible cultural heritage about the origins of Brebes. This origin is included in the recording category by the Ministry of Education and Culture.

Also read: After 33 Years of the Majalengka Earthquake

It is said that there is a story related to the word baribis which eventually became brebes. Between Salem and Bantarkawung there is a mountain called Baribis. From there the Baribis River flows to the north until it empties into the Java Sea. This river joins other rivers and is a large river on the north coast of Java.

Once upon a time, Baribis River was considered a lucky (haunted) river and was said to be home to many crocodiles. The elders of that time forbade their children and grandchildren from coming near, crossing, swimming, and so on in this river. In fact, to convince their younger generations, there was a legend about the war between Arya Bangah and Ciyung Wanara.

Between Salem and Bantarkawung lies a mountain named Baribis. From there, the Baribis River flows to the north and empties into the Java Sea.

Arya lost because he crossed the Baribis River. From there it was used as a warning (pepenget, pepeling, pepali, and prohibition) so that during war you should not step over or cross the Baribis River.

This information is based on the testimony of several parents in the southern part of Brebes near the Pemali River. The river, originally named Baribis River, originates from Mount Baribis.

Another version of the origin of Baribis Village is a saying that a child should quickly learn the Koran. They say babari in Sundanese which means easy or effortless.

KOMPAS/RIAN SEPTIANDI

Squares and settlements in Talaga District, Majalengka Regency, West Java, Friday (17/5/2024).

Baribis Fault

The Baribis Fault, together with the Cimandiri Fault and the Lembang Fault, was introduced by Van Bemmelen (1949). All three are thought to still be active today.

This was mentioned by the BMKG Engineering Seismology Division in a review of groundmotion and spectral response to the Cianjur earthquake on November 21 2022. The Cimandiri Fault, Baribis Fault and Lembang Fault are regional structures that play an important role among the many fault structures in Java. West.

The Baribis Fault is located in northern Java and is an ascending fault with a relative west-east direction, stretching from Purwakarta to Baribis in the Kadipaten Majalengka (Van Bemmelen, 1949).

The Baribis Fault line is viewed differently by other researchers. Martodjojo (1984) interpreted that the Baribis Fault line rises continuously towards the southeast through the Citanduy River Valley alignment. Meanwhile, according to Simandjuntak (1986), it is interpreted to continue eastward towards the Kendeng area (East Java). Simandjuntak named it the Baribis-Kendeng Fault Zone.

Meanwhile, the Baribis Fault, tectonically representing the youngest age in Java, was formed during the Plio-Pleistocene period. Martodjojo and Pulunggono (1986) classified this fault as part of Java's pattern.

Also read: Traces of the Cirebon Segment of the Baribis Fault on the Cimanis River

Neither the residents nor the officials in Baribis Village know exactly about the fault line that is said to cross their area. The village has several hills with their own names or are simply referred to as Baribis Hill. They only remember that there was research conducted by experts, including a team from the Bandung Institute of Technology several years ago.

Cimandiri Fault, Baribis Fault, and Lembang Fault are regional structures that play important roles among the many fault structures in West Java.

"There are many hills here with fossilized shells and sea fish. Many residents have found them there. We are surprised, perhaps there used to be seawater here," he said.

Referring to the historical records of the village and historical sites, there are three hill points called mountains that serve as burial locations for village elders. Gunung Jaya, the burial site of Raden Otolingga (Mbah Kuwu Letik, the child of Raden Djaya Wisaya and the chiefs); Gunung Cupu, the resting place of Nyi Antasari Manik and her heirlooms; and Gunung Kiyai as the burial ground for religious scholars, such as Hasan Ma'arif, Muharam, and others.

FRANSISKUS WISNU WARDHANA DANY

The earthquake memorial monument in Cihaur village, Maja District, Majalengka Regency, West Java, on Saturday (May 18, 2024). It is noted that as many as 12,520 houses were damaged following the earthquake on July 6, 1990 in Majalengka, Kuningan, Ciamis, and Sumedang, West Java.

Earthquake

Despite the many versions of its history, the area around the Baribis Fault is prone to earthquakes. The Baribis Kendeng fault segment in Subang, which stretches for 33 km, can trigger earthquakes up to magnitude 6.5. This earthquake has the potential to cause shaking with moderate damage and a scale of 5 in Indramayu, Sumedang, Subang, and Majalengka.

The 20 kilometer long Ciremai fault can also trigger earthquakes of up to magnitude 6.5. Shocks with moderate damage and a scale of 5 were felt in Majalengka and Kuningan (Kompas, 28 November 2022).

The most impactful earthquake event in Abdul Karim's memory is on July 6, 1990. A tectonic earthquake with a magnitude of 5.2 shook Bandung, Sumedang, and Majalengka at 07:16 AM on Friday. A total of 12,520 buildings were damaged in Majalengka, Kuningan, Ciamis, and Sumedang, West Java, after the earthquake.

”Aya earthquake, aya earthquake, aya earthquake. We ran to the rice fields afraid of being hit by buildings. "No one dared go near the building," said Abdul, who was still a teenager at the time.

Aya in Sundanese means 'there'. Local residents often say it while saving themselves when an earthquake or vibrations are felt in Majalengka.

Also read: Even though the earthquake collapsed houses, residents' preparedness for disasters is still minimal

After an earthquake, residents usually hold a "sedekah bumi" ceremony. They prepare a cone-shaped rice dish called "tumpeng" with boiled free-range chicken eggs on top as a complement to praying together with the intention of seeking God's protection.

"We do it routinely even though we don't know exactly the meaning of tumpeng and boiled eggs. Essentially, we pray for the grace of the Almighty," said Ridwan (34), one of the residents of Baribis Village.

Regarding earthquakes or disaster-prone areas, residents like Dede (58), a porridge seller in Cihaur Village, Majalengka, hope for safety. He is one of the survivors of the earthquake on July 6, 1990.

After an earthquake, residents usually hold a "sedekah bumi" ceremony. They prepare a cone-shaped rice dish called "tumpeng" with boiled free-range chicken eggs on top as a complement to praying together with the intention of seeking God's protection.

Dede was pregnant when the earthquake occurred. That morning, as usual, he was cleaning the house. Suddenly the earth shook and there was a roar.

"I ran out of the house. The buildings on both sides were already destroyed. The earthquake in Garut yesterday was also felt here. Hopefully, we are safe from disaster," he said.