Page:Christiaan Snouck Hurgronje - The Achehnese Vol II. - tr. Arthur Warren Swete O'Sullivan (1906).djvu/124

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107

and turned to Allah; later on, when their religious zeal abated, the fortune of war also turned against them.

The ships which the Dutch left lying off Acheh barred all access to the port. The Gōmpeuni meanwhile enlisted the aid of English, French and Portuguese vessels, and, thus reinforced, resumed the attack after 10 months. The Imeum of Luëng Bata and Teungku Lam Nga fought once more with heroic valour. The Sultan fled a second time, on this occasion to Pagarayé, where he died.

After the conquest of the Dalam the war was waged with varying fortune.[1] Meantime Habib Abdurrahman returned to the Straits from his journey to the West.

The poet now surveys a period of nearly nine months duration, during which the combatants remained almost inactive, and at the end of which the Mukim Luëng Bata (whose brave imeum was sick at the time) and the Mukim Lhòng (= Lam Ara) were overcome by the Gōmpeuni. Soon after the VI Mukims (the author's country) and the IV Mukims shared the same fate.

The people of the gampōngs who had taken to flight began by degrees to return to the parts occupied by the Gōmpeuni, attracted by the profits arising from the sale of provisions. Teuku Lam Nga tried in vain to hold them back by force.

When "the Habib" set foot once more on Achehnese soil, he assumed a considerable share in the conduct of the war. Establishing himself at Mon Tasiëʾ, he undertook several expeditions from that place, and among them one to Kruëng Raba. This however led to nothing, for (as the Achehnese later on pretended to have observed) the Habib's investment of the Gōmpeuni's stronghold was not seriously meant. In like manner they now ascribe to the treachery of the Habib the success of the Dutch in defeating and slaying Teuku Lam Nga near Peukan Bada a short time afterwards.

The efforts of the Gōmpeuni to win over the Imeum of Luëng Bata with bribes proved all in vain. In the enemy's onslaught upon the XXVI Mukims he stood firm in the defence along with Teuku Paya the father


  1. The different Dutch expeditions against Acheh have not impressed the poet and his countrymen as separate episodes in the contest; nay he sometimes speaks of the "one-eyed general" as having been in chief command before the time he was appointed. Not unnaturally the history of the war is divided into periods to suit an Achehnese standpoint, and every such period has for its central point of interest one or more Achehnese leaders.