THERE is a strange woman who makes a brief appearance in the 3,500-page early 19th century Javanese literary work Serat Centhini. She is Retna Ginubah.

In the 10th volume of the Centhini, her profile is striking. There is a moment when the Lembuasta Regency’s hall, which is crowded with guests, suddenly falls silent. At the gate appears a young woman on horseback, sitting erect, wearing soldier’s attire.

Samya angungun ningali&mdash