THE GOD OF WAR.

Myths and tales of Indonesia are very diverse, because the people comes from hundreds of ethnic groups, each with their own way of beliefs.
Some groups that were isolated from the rest of the World until recent centuries have their own myths still free from foreign influences.
This myth is an animistic belief related to Borneo's abundant bird species. Birds have the faculty of flight, envied by man, that they only need to flap their wings and fly away from danger, yet that simple action warns man from the dangers these birds perceived.
In Iban floklore, SING'ALANG BURUNG's thoughts were recorded as follows: "I am the ruler of the SPIRIT WORLD and have the power to make men successful. In all work you undertake YOU MUST PAY HEED TO THE VOICES of sacred birds."
SING'ALANG BURUNG was the bravest god of war and in his earthly form, disguised as a bird, the Brahminy kite, he conveyed messages to the Ibans.
Ancient Iban Woodcarvings and Wooden War Shields depict this bird as a Sign of Invisibility. It is the state bird of Sarawak.
Today in Kenya and Iban this bird has been usurped by the supreme Avian god in both cultures: the RHINOCEROS HORNBILL. These magnificent birds fly in a flock at dusk across the Kinabatangan River in Eastern Sabah. They are distinguishable by the rapid succession of their roaring calls and the whooshing sound of their wings and white tip of their tails, when they are in route to their nests in the trees bordering the River.
The RHINOCEROS HORNBILL are in size between 91 and 122 centimeters long and are named after their reddish yellow horns protruding upwards beyond their whitish beaks. This horn, made of keratin, is hollow inside and slightly larger in the male species.
To the Dayak community, it represents a sign of virility and male dominance, derived from its habit of imprisoning its mate in a dark hollow and emergent primary forest tree at breeding time. Usually the nest is placed in such holes near the top of the forest canopy and the entrance is sealed by their own droppings. The nest is almost glued together with just one hole, through which the incubating female bird can receive the male's regurgitating food deliveries and for her excretion purposes. Beyond this nest, the bird builds an outer nest of mud which soon is baked hard. The female bird and her eggs are thus well protected from raiders such as monkeys and snakes.

THE LONGEVITY SOUP.

This is a Borneo myth in which a simple bird's nest from the Island became a peculiar delicacy:
"Long ago in China, there was an Emperor who loved to taste different gourmet dishes made by the royal cook."
"Each dish was exotic and different every day."
"One day the cook ran out of ideas and desperately needed to find a new dish to prepare for him. The Emperor had decreed that if the cook could not prepare a new different dish daily, that he would not only lose his position as the royal cook but also his head."
"The royal cook decided to take a walk to the harbor to see if he could find something new and exotic to cook. He came across a merchant who had showed him a bird's nest from Borneo. 'How do I cook this?' says the cook, looking at the bird's nest. "You are the cook, they eat this in borneo, I just buy it, I don't prepare it. It has some potent longevity properties, that is what I was told,' said the merchant."
"Knowing the Emperor's passion for Feng Shui and longevity, the royal cook cunningly presented the soup with a dragon in one side and a phoenix on the left, with the soup in the middle. 'What have you brought me today?' asked the Emperor. 'Longevity soup Your Highness,' replied the royal cook."
The Emperor's eyes lit up, and he eagerly tasted the soup. It smelt sweet and aromatic just how he liked it, however when he tasted the food it was plain. The royal cook held his breath. 'This tastes like ordinary soup, I can get this anywhere in my kingdom,' said the Emperor.' 'Taste it again please Your Majesty,' urged the cook. The Emperor took another spoon full and said, 'It still tastes ordinary.' 'Please take another sip Your Majesty,' the cook urged again, fearful for his life. 'All right but if I do not taste anything different, I will have your head,' threatened the Emperor."
"The cook had to think fast, 'In Borneo ...' he started. The Emperor's eyes lit up because he knew that it was an exotic place. The pillars of the Forbidden City, were made from timbers that came from Borneo.
'In Borneo, the people there, eat this soup for longevity. It keeps the people young and healthy, it lengthen their years and they live long and prosperous because of this soup.' The cook went on about the benefits of the soup, emphasizing on the longevity properties of the dish. 'Such an exotic dish, why didn't you say so? This dish is fit for an Emperor,' he decreed."
"The royal cook sighed with relief, as the Emperor continued to relish his dish. Once the Emperor had finished his meal, he announced that the longevity soup had to be served to him on a regular basis, and the royal cook was duly rewarded."
"To keep the Emperor from finding out that the longevity soup's raw ingredient was bird's nest, the royal cook ensured that all those who brought back the birds nest from Borneo were killed. New crew were sent to retrieve the bird's nest each time."
"True enough the Emperor lived a long and prosperous life."
"The longevity soup was only served to the royal family and wealthy merchants, it was not allowed to be served to the general population."
"The longevity soup became renowned as a royal dish, and its potent properties claimed by the merchant were proven to be true."
"The Emperor's successors were the ones who had benefited from the soup, as it was served to them at an early age."