Page:Christiaan Snouck Hurgronje - The Achehnese Vol II. - tr. Arthur Warren Swete O'Sullivan (1906).djvu/216

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199

A more peaceful variation is the meutaʾ-tham euë galah[1]. A main line is drawn, called euë galah[2] (AB in the figure). This is supposed to be produced indefinitely at both ends. Crossing this at right angles are a number of other lines (euë linteuëng) CD, EF etc., of equal length and separated by equal intervals. Their number depends on the number of players; thus 12 players require 5 euë linteuëng, 14 players 6, and so on. Each euë is guarded by one player, and these guards (6 in number in the figure below) form one side in the game. The other side has to try to make their way from in front of the line L M across all the euës till they get behind the line C D.

On their way they are exposed to the danger of being touched by the guards, in which case they become "dead". The guards of the cross lines must only strike in the direction from which the assailants advance; that of the main line can strike in every direction. In trying to hit his adversary no guard must move further from his line than he can jump with his feet touching. Otherwise his blow does not count.


  1. A variation of this game is played by the Malays of the Peninsula under the name galah panjang (Translator).
  2. The name galah given to the principal euë or boundary is taken from galah the pole with which prahōs or other vessels are propelled up a river.