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Circumcision of girls.In the case of girls circumcision follows very soon after the peutrōn. It is performed with great secrecy. Even the father does not know when his daughter is circumcised. The haste with which this operation is got over is attributed to the fear lest the girl so soon as she can speak should mention it in her childish innocence. Not a semblance of festivity attends the ceremony; some yellow glutinous rice is simply brought to the teungku and he repeats the fatihah over it a single time. In presenting it to him the women say: "we have here a small offering in honour of the Prophet" (na hajat bachut keu Pangulèë), without further elucidation. The teungkus receive such little gifts almost daily with a request for a fatihah or a prayer. The secrecy observed in this matter is much greater in Acheh than in Java. In the latter country there is not indeed a feast given to celebrate the circumcision of girls, but there is on the other hand no concealment where they are circumcised at the feasts given to celebrate the performance of the same rate upon their brothers or cousins. The midwife acts as surgeon.
Piercing of ear-lobes.The "piercing of the ears" (tòb glunyuëng)[1] of girls is performed in their 6th or 7th year.
This ceremony is restricted to the “open season of the year” (musém luaïh blang) as it is believed that if it is done during the "narrow" or "closed" season (musém pichéʾ blang) the holes in the ears will have a tendency to contract. Neglect to fulfil a vow made with reference to the feast of ear-boring is considered likely to result in the complete splitting of the ear-lobe.
It is only the very poor who have this operation performed at home, inviting but few guests to witness the ceremony. It is more usual to take the girl in procession to a neighbouring holy tomb, so that the saint's blessing may rest upon the act. This is done even when the mother has made no vow with reference to the piercing of her daughter's ears. But it seldom happens that the mother has not made some such kaʾōy or vow, the most customary being that the ceremony shall take place at the tomb of some famous saint, such as Teungku Anjōng or Teungku di Kuala.
On such an occasion both men and women of the gampōng are invited in great numbers, and a procession is formed to the sacred
- ↑ Mal. běrtindek telinga. The Malays often bore the ears before the child has completed its first year. (Translator).
