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house; while the guests who have escorted him thither are enjoying their sirih in the front verandah, he stands as it were concealed with a few who remain to hold him company. A fresh dialogue between the orators representing the two gampōngs introduces his entrance.
The demand for the bridegroom.A. Well then, where are ye all, Teukus?
B. and his companions in chorus: Here are your servants!
A. Now then, by the will of Allah the Exalted, you, Teukus, have partaken of the sirih which your servant has set before you; I will now let you know what lies upon my heart.
B. Well then, Teuku! now as regards the sirih that you have laid before us, your servants have enjoyed it by Allah's will. You wish now to tell us of that which lies upon your heart. Do so then, Teuku! We hearken with joy (lit. "on our head").
A. Well then, Teuku, we have yet another word to say. We shall now implore you all, Teukus, using the words of the weavers of tales[1]:
A paʾ ikō[2] with red shoulders,
A wagtail flies, making the world shake.
Respectful greetings from grandmother peunganjō[3]
She lays on us the task of demanding the bridegroom at your hands, oh Teukus!
B. What saidst thou, Teuku?
A paʾ ikō etc. (as above).
Now we too have a word to say, that you, Teuku, may impart to the elders.
You said: "A paʾ ikō with red shoulders".
But it has flown away to Blang Pangòë[4].
Teuku convey our greetings to grandmother peunganjō,
Say, Teuku, that there is no bridegroom among us.
A. Well, Teukus, I have already told grandmother peunganjō of this, and what was her reply?
- ↑ Ureuëng meuruhé. Haba ruhé properly means a story handed down by word of mouth and composed wholly or in part in rhyme, which is usually of a laughter-moving character and singles out some special person or thing for ridicule. It is however used to designate other compositions also, which cannot be referred to the headings of hikayats, pantōns and nalams.
- ↑ A yellow bird often kept in cages.
- ↑ The name given to the old women who act as the attendants of the bride throughout all the wedding ceremonies.
- ↑ A gampōng in the XXVI Mukims.
