50
Van Langen notices a tradition according to which the name of this tribe was originally that of an individual from Lampanaïh in the XXII Mukims, who used to bring every year to the Sultans of Acheh in token of fealty a bamboo filled with palm-wine fastened to a cord passing over his shoulder[1].
Another legend which I have heard, while equally unreliable from a historical point of view, is much more generally current among the Achehnese, and serves to illustrate an adat which prevailed up to the latest times at the installation of a new Sultan.
According to this story, one of the Sultans of Acheh once found himself constrained to go and enforce in person his authority over the district of Pidié. His route thither lay through Lam Panaïh in the XXII Mukims. Here he suffered from thirst, but none was found to bring him anything to drink, till at last a man of humble rank brought him milk in a bamboo vessel (pachōʾ), which he carried in the way expressed by the word sandang.
The Sultan was extremely grateful and invited him to come to him when the war was over and His Majesty had returned to the Dalam, as he wished to give him an earnest of the honour and favour in which he held him. "But how", objected the old man, "shall an insignificant person like myself be recognized as he who helped to assuage your thirst, and admission to the Dalam be accorded me"? "You must", replied the Sultan, "twist a white cocoanut spathe round your head by way of sign, and hang your bamboo vessel over your shoulder as it now is". Ja Sandang did so, and both he and his descendants enjoyed the utmost consideration at the Court.
Teuku Kali.Later on the ruler of Acheh who reformed or endeavoured to reform the administration of justice, chose his court judge from the tribe of Ja Sandang, which had meantime greatly increased in dignity. This official received the title of Kali Malikul-adil (Malikōn Adé) and the judicial office or at least the title appertaining to it remained hereditary in his family.
The later bearers of this title gradually acquired the positions of masters of ceremonies at the Court. Those who have seen them in the exercise of their functions at the installation of a new Sultan, can testify that on such occasions the Teuku Kali wore a white cocoanut
- ↑ Atjehsch Staatsbestuur, pp. 388–389.
