The Story of Kuwung Stone

Long time ago, there was a very rich merchant. He had a very close relationship with the power of Sultan Haji, the son of Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa. Because of the relationship he got monopoly right of rice, pepper and coffee trade and he was also appointed as the chief of the village.
The merchant was very stingy and used to living in luxury among his poor people. He also ruled the people cruelly so the people hated him very much.
One day, there was a supernatural man who was in disguise as a limped beggar came to teach him "a lesson" and to make him realize his blunder.
When "the supernatural beggar" met the merchant, he told his purpose to him. He told that he needed some food to eat because he was very hungry. He also asked the man to give some money as capital to start a business.
The merchant was very angry to hear the man's wish and swore at him.
"Hey, you the indecent and limped beggar!!!, Do you think What I have now comes from the sky?!!" How dare you ask to me, the lazy beggar!" cursed the merchant while pushing the beggar down to the ground so his face kissed the ground.
Being treated like that, the limped beggar got very angry. He warned the merchant that he would be sorry for what he had done to him.
"Hey, you the arrogant and stingy merchant, you have to feel how hungry and suffered I am!" said the beggar. Soon the beggar disappeared from the sight of the merchant. The merchant was very surprised to see the event
What the beggar said came true. The next morning, when the merchant got up, he could not move his two legs. He tried very hard to move his two legs but he couldn't. He was very panic. He screamed hysterically many times. His bodyguard who heard the scream came to see him.
Although there were a lot of physicians who tried hard to cure him, none of them succeeded. Then, he promised to give a half of his wealth to anyone who could cure him from paralysis
The news was heard by the limped beggar. Then he came to see the man. He explained what really happened to the man. Why he became paralyzed.
"All of these were the punishment of your stingy and arrogant behavior. It could get well, if you were willing to do three things. First, you have to change your arrogant behavior. Second, you have to go to the foot of Karang Mountain and find out a concave stone. Then you have to practice ascetic there (on the concave stone) day and night for seven days. You are not allowed to drink and eat. And remember "don't cancel your ascetic whatever happened".
Third, when you legs get well again, you have to keep your promise. You have give a half of wealth to the poor in your neighborhood. Then, the merchant left for the foot of Cekung Mountain. He was carried on a stretcher by his bodyguards.
On the last day of his ascetic, there was a miracle. From the centre of the concave stone, the hot water spouted. The merchant ended his ascetic and took a bath it. Then there was another miracle. He could move his two legs normally.
As his previous promise, the merchant distributed a half of his wealth to the poor around his house. He also gave the farmers their own land to be cultivated. Moreover, he married a beautiful woman, a daughter of a poor farmer, who he loved very much. The people in the village loved him. Later on, he was famous as a kind merchant.
When the was a guest come to visit his house, the merchant often told the miracle story of the concave stone with its hot water in the foot of Karang Mountain. He did this because the water could cure his two paralyzed legs. Slow but sure, the story spread from mouth to mouth to other villages. A lot of people were interested to come to visit. From the rumor, some other dieses could be cured if people took a bath with the hot water from the concave stone.
Now, people know the area as a tourist resort with its hot water "Batu Kuwung" means "Batu Cekung" in Indonesian. Its location is in subsdistrict Padarincang, Ciomas-Banten. It has the foot of Gunung Karang as its background.