Sang Nila Utama and the Lion City
A storm, a strange animal, and a new city
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Sang Nila Utama and the Lion City
Sang Nila Utama had seen many places around Bentan. One day he asked the queen, his wife’s mother, if he and Wan Sri Bini might visit Tanjong Bemban.
The queen thought they had plenty to enjoy at home. Seeing how much he wished to go, she agreed and had their boats made ready.
Sang Nila Utama and the Lion City
At Tanjong Bemban, the travellers enjoyed the sand, tide pools, and flowers. Wan Sri Bini sat in the shade of a pandan tree while the others explored.
Sang Nila Utama went farther and climbed a high stone. From there he could see another coast across the strait.
Sang Nila Utama and the Lion City
The sand across the water looked as white as cotton. Sang Nila Utama asked his adviser, Indra B’hupala, what land he could see.
“It is Tamasak,” the adviser answered. Sang Nila Utama wanted to visit, so the party boarded their boats again.
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Explore this illustrated story at four reading levels. Each level follows the same essential events.
Collection: Southeast Asian tales
Retelling: Singapore · after the Malay Annals
For parents: A founding legend: the animal is described in the annals, then identified as a singha by an adviser
Public-domain source: View the recorded source edition