Long ago, in the cycloops mountain, north of Lake Sentani there lived a young man named Maruwai with his parents. Maruwai is a dashing young man with a tall and sturdy body. He also has a dagger made of cassowary bones.

On the dry season , the place where Maruwai lives is hit by drought. The villagers had difficulty getting water, Maruwai's parents immediately ordered their son to find water, and Maruwai happily complied with his parents' request. Maruwai immediately prepared all the equipment, then said goodbye to his parents. The hot sun is not an obstacle for Maruwai to continue his journey. He went in and out of the forest, breaking through the thick sharp weeds in the hope of getting water as soon as possible. Now and then Maruwai picks fern leaves to eat. When thirsty, he slashes a rattan stick and then sucks the water. It's been a tiring journey. However, Maruwai believed that he would get water.

Not long after, Maruwai saw a black cloud surrounding the top of the hill. Without thinking Maruwai ran through the forest bushes around the hills. Maruwai was sure that the black cloud contained enough water to be spilled onto the earth as rain, so he took the midrib (upih nibung) to hold the water. However, how upset Maruwai was because the black cloud moved to the east. Maruwai looked around him, the weather was clear, there was not a single cloud. Maruwai pensive, he became gloomy. Suddenly he saw a small hut, not far from where he was standing. Maruwai approached the hut which turned out to be inhabited by Bodutan and his wife Waumeng. "Hey young man, what's your name? And where are you from?" asked Waumeng.

"I'm Maruwai, from the village across the hill. My parents told me to look for water because our village is in a drought," replied Maruwai. Then Maruwai told the state of his village and his journey to arrive at that place. Bodutan and Waumeng listened carefully to Maruwai's story. 

"Then you are not going the wrong way. Not far from here, behind the hill there is a waterfall with clear water," said Bodutan, pointing to the intended direction.

"But, you have to be careful, if you have taken enough water, don't put the water carelessly and don't spill it," continued Waumeng.

Maruwai rushed to follow the direction Bodutan had told him. When he arrived at the destination, Maruwai saw the sparkling clear water. He gave thanks, then took water to wash his body and drank to his heart's content. After that, he filled upih nibung to the brim. Before leaving Maruwai looked around to recognize the place because at any time he would come back again.

On the way home, Maruwai met a large Cassowary. He immediately shot his arrows, ready to aim at the Cassowary! However, when he released his arrow, Maruwai remembered Bodutan and Waumeng's message, and he gave up his intention. He quickly grabbed upih nibung which was placed on the ground and carried it carefully. Maruwai continued his journey. Several times he encountered various kinds of birds. But Maruwai still restrained himself from shooting at the animals.

When almost approaching the area, suddenly appeared a large and fat wild boar. Maruwai could no longer hold back his urge to get the pork.

Maruwai immediately took the bow and looked at the arrow, then ready to aim! But before the arrow was released, the upih nibung rope which was filled with water was released and fell. The water he had searched for was so painstakingly spilled! Suddenly there was an oddity. The water that comes out of upih nibung continues to flow endlessly. Inundated the ground where the upih nibung fell, flowed ... flowed ... and continued to flow downwards until it became a river which was eventually named the Maruwai.