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The kupalas[1] (headmen) soon saw that they had acted rashly in permitting themselves to enjoy the favour of the Gōmpeuni. The latter required of them reliable information as to the movements of the guerilla bands, but whenever they furnished it they were severely punished by Teuku Asan, and the Gōmpeuni gave them little help. Finally an alarming example was set by the execution of the arch-traitor kupala Punteuët, and all the remaining headmen embraced, either openly or in secret, the cause of Teuku Asan.
Thereupon the Raja Muda called on his subjects to purchase firearms to defend themselves against Teuku Asan, so that for them too peace was at an end.
The headman of the Chinese succeeded by a money present in inducing Teuku Asan to refrain from attacking the coolies of his nationality, the more so as they waged no war, but earned their livelihood by labour. At the same time this headman facilitated the visits which the Teuku occasionally made to Kuta Raja for scouting purposes. He used to disguise himself on such occasions as a seller of firewood; his price was so high that no one would ever buy from him, and so as he passed from place to place with his load he was able to gather all the information he required.
The principal panglimas who took up arms under the leadership of Teuku Asan were Nyaʾ Bintang, Teuku Usén of Pagarayé, his brother Teuku Ali, and Teuku Usén of Luëng Bata, brother of the imeum of that Mukim. We are told of their feats of arms—usually attacks upon convoys of provisions. Even at this period (an example is quoted in the IV Mukims) the people of the gampōngs used often to misinform the leaders of the guerilla bands as to the movements of the Gōmpeuni, so as to rid themselves of the presence of both.
Later on a new leader, Teuku Uma (Umar), came up from the West to drive the Dutch out of the IV Mukims. The people joined him the more readily as they were weary of the burdens laid upon them by the Raja Muda. The poet, who himself received many gifts from Teuku Uma's generous hand, details at some length the exploits of this hero till his return to Daya.
- ↑ This name (most likely purposely corrupted from the Malay kapala) is used by the Achehnese to describe the heads of gampōngs established by the Dutch government in place of the keuchiʾs who took to flight and refused to return. The candidates for such offices were not of course always the most desirable people possible.
