The Origins of Surabaya

               In ancient times, in vast sea there was a frequent fight between a shark(sura) and a crocodile(baya). They fought each other to fight for prey in the ocean. They almost had same strength and already fought so many times but no one ever wins or loses. Eventually they both made an agreement that must be followed. The agreement was a division of hunting area. They divided their hunting territory into two where Sura ruledin water and hunted aquatic animals while crocodile ruled on the land and hunted land animals. Their territory bounded by shoreline in beach. This agreement should not be violated by anyone.

With this agreement,there was no longer fight between Sura and Baya. They both had reconciled and agreed to respect each territory. However, this peace did not last long. Until one day, Sura ran out of prey in the ocean. He began to prowl in rivers and lakes in land. Sura also caught land animals which were drinking at the river. He did this hunt secretly without being known by Baya.

One day Baya wondered why his prey turned less. Then he looked for the cause and he found Sura was hunting in his area. It made Baya became very angry. “why are you hunting in my territory?” Baya asked in anger. Sura was shocked to hear Baya was angry with him, “i do not hunt in your area,i hunt in waters which are my territory”said Sura. “But you were hunting in river. The river is located on the mainland and you’re also eating land animals that are my prey. You have violated our agreement “said Baya. “it can’t be. All water is my territory, including riversand lakes that exist in the land!” Sura added. They both argued each other. Because there is no one budged a great battle happened between them.

 This fight is very powerful and terrible. Sura and Baya crashing, pounching and biting each other. None animals dared to approach or even stop their fight. This fight made all the water around them turned red because blood which was coming out of their injured. This fight lasted very long. They continued to fight to defend territory without taking a rest at all. in this battle Sura bite Baya’s tail. Getting a bite from Sura. Baya replied to bite Sura’s tail. Two of them were biting the tail one another without taking it off. This incident lasted very long until Sura was not stand anymore because his tail nearly severed. Then Sura ran to the ocean. Baya satisfied that he had managed to maintain his area. Until this day they both continued hostile and Sura never returned to rivers and lakes anymore.

The fight between shark and crocodile named Sura and Baya was very remarkable and memorable for the local society. Therefore, the area was given the name of Surabaya. And this fight is made as a symbol of Surabaya which is the image of sharks and crocodiles bite their tail each other.