36
through the gampōng to the main road[1] (rèt), which runs through rice-fields, gardens and uncultivated spaces, and unites one gampōng with another. The whole gampōng, like each courtyard, is surrounded with a fence.
A good fence is generally formed of two rows of glundōng or keudundōng trees or the like, set at a uniform distance apart, leaving a slight intervening space which is filled with triëng or thorny bamboo. The two rows are united firmly together by bamboos fastened horizontally from tree to tree as crosspieces. There are usually from three to five of these cross bamboos in the length of the fence.
Sometimes trees or bushes of other sorts which are themselves furnished with thorns, such as the daréh, are employed to fence in gardens, courtyards or gampōngs.
In many courtyards[2], as appears from what we have said above, more than a single dwelling house is to be found. As a rule each additional house is the habitation of one of the married daughters of the same family or in any case belongs to women descended from the same ancestress.
An indispensable item is the well (mòn), from which the women draw water for household use in buckets (tima) made of the spathe of the betel-palm (seutuë)ʾ, where they wash their clothes and utensils, bathe (so far as the uncleanly Achehnese deem it necessary to do so) and perform other needs. A gutter (salōran) carries off the water etc. to an earthenware conduit, which conducts both water and dung to a manure-heap (adén or jeuʾa) which is always very wet. Into this also falls by means of another gutter all the wet refuse that is thrown out from the back part of the house and kitchen. A screen (pupalang) shuts off those who are using the well from the gaze of the passers-by.
The space underneath the house (yub mòh or yub rumòh) serves as the receptacle of various articles. The jeungki or see-saw rice-pounder for husking rice; the keupōʾ[3], a space between four or six posts, separated off by a partition of plaited cocoanut leaves (bleuët) or similar
- ↑ The point of junction of the gampōng-path with the main road is called babah rèt = mouth of the road.
- ↑ The part of the courtyard in front of the house is called leuën, that behind it likōt or likōt mòh (the last is short for rumòh) and the spaces at the sides of the two gables rabòng.
- ↑ Sometimes, especially in the highlands, there are found in place of the keupōʾ more solidly constructed wooden storehouses (brandang) either under the house or close beside it.
