(By Syerif Nurhakim)
Once upon a time, in a remote village, lived seven siblings who had been orphaned since the youngest was born. Six of them were boys, and the youngest—a girl—was the only daughter. Because of this, her six older brothers loved and protected her deeply. Her name was White Lady Sedaro, and their lives were filled with harmony and peace.
One night, White Lady Sedaro had a strange and vivid dream. In her dream, she was visited by an old man who said:
“White Lady Sedaro, you are actually the grandmother of your six brothers. Your time has come near—prepare yourself for death. When you are gone, from your grave will grow a tree unlike any other. This tree will bring great benefits to mankind.”
Startled and shaken, Sedaro asked, “Am I really going to die?”
The old man simply nodded and disappeared.
From that moment on, White Lady Sedaro was overcome with fear and sadness, yet also filled with curiosity. The dream haunted her every day. She constantly imagined her own death, and the fear consumed her.
She stopped eating and drinking properly. Her body became weak, pale, and thin. Seeing her in such distress, her eldest brother finally asked what was troubling her. With tears in her eyes, Sedaro told him everything about her dream.
“If the dream is true,” she said softly, “and a tree that brings happiness to people will grow from my body, then I am willing to sacrifice myself for it.”
But her brother replied with love, “No, dear sister. Don’t leave us so soon. Let’s grow up together, get married, and have children. We still have a long life ahead.”
Thanks to her brother’s comfort and encouragement, Sedaro slowly recovered. She returned to her cheerful self, full of laughter and joy. She spent her days working in the fields, especially during the harvest season.
Then one night, without any pain or sign of illness, White Lady Sedaro passed away peacefully in her sleep. Her brothers were devastated. They mourned deeply, for they had lost not just a sister, but the light of their lives.
The next day, the six brothers buried their beloved sister near their home. Just as in her dream, from her grave grew a unique tree, unlike any other. The tree grew tall and strong. The brothers took care of it and named it the White Sedaro Tree.
Near the White Sedaro Tree, another tree began to grow—the Kapau tree. It stood close enough that when the wind blew, its fruits would strike the White Sedaro tree’s stalks, leaving bruises on them.
One day, a squirrel was seen licking the sweet sap that oozed from the bruised stalks. A traveler resting beneath the tree noticed this and, driven by curiosity, tasted the sap himself. He found it delicious and refreshing.
The traveler shared his discovery with the villagers, and soon people began collecting the sap to drink. Some even boiled it until it thickened, turning it into what we now know as red sugar or palm sugar.
That sweet liquid is called sap, and the White Sedaro Tree is now known throughout the land as the palm tree—a tree that continues to bless humankind with its many uses.
