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or religious feasts, at which there was no lack of exhortations. Even during his life time he was revered by many as a saint, and in order to satisfy the demand for "ajeumat" (= charms) he was obliged in the end to have a stamp made bearing a mystic delineation of the Prophet's sandal; this he impressed on slips of paper for those who demanded a blessing.
Envy of the Teungku's power.
THE SEAL-AMULET OF THE LATE TEUNGKU TIRÒ.
We must however be on our guard against exaggerated ideas of the unanimity of the Achehnese under "The Teungku". It was not alone the adat-chiefs who witnessed the supremacy of this ulama with ill-concealed annoyance; among the members of his own guild also there were not wanting envious detractors. During his lifetime the opposition of the latter was much restricted, indeed hardly noticeable by the uninitiated; now that he has been some years dead (he died in 1891) we can easily gather how jealousy may at times have thwarted his purposes. The principal rivals of Teungku Tirò were the active Habib Samalanga [died in December 1901] and Teungku Kutakarang.
Habib Samalanga.The Habib of Samalanga, who originally had his residence in the district of that name, was a sayyid born in Acheh and thus of less consideration than those who came direct from Arabia. His learning must have been below the average and would never have excited remark had it not been for his religious nobility. He came to Great Acheh in order to take part in the direction of the jihād, especially in the XXVI Mukims. Just like Teungku Tirò in his sphere of action, he here gathered in the haʾ sabi and other contributions to meet the expenses of the war.
In order to appear in the eyes of his followers as at least the equal and if possible the superior of "the Teungku", he had to distinguish himself from the latter in some particular way. This he did; his specialty was tapa[1] or seclusion from the world. He would remain isol-
- ↑ Tapa in the sense of absolute hermitical seclusion is admired and respected, but very seldom practised by the Malays of the peninsula. When ascending Gunong Jěrai in Kědah I heard of a holy hermit there who had spoken to no human being for five years; but he was said to be a stranger. Tapa for short periods is however popular. (Translator).
