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"We find in existence undang-undang or collections of such public ordinances attributed to various Achehnese rulers, all dealing with trade, navigation, import and export duties, administration and ceremonial. Sultan Iskandar Muda (1607–1636) in particular appears to have applied himself to calling into existence a system of rules on these subjects. His code, if we may so term it, is called Makota Alam [1] or Adat Kanun, but copies of this are rare."
No one could have recorded in a more naive manner the want of intelligence which he brought to bear on his enquiry.
The Achehnese in general and their chiefs in particular will have themselves Mohammedans and nothing else. Within a few years previous to the visit of Mr. der Kinderen to Acheh, they had for the first time come under the control of a non-Mohammedan power, and regarded their new masters with distrust, all the more as a rumour had gone abroad that the "Gōmpeuni"[2] was everywhere endeavouring to introduce its Christian laws and to draw the Mohammedans away from their own religion. No wonder then that the chiefs "gave an evasive answer", or imparted little pertinent information in reply to the foolish query of Mr. der Kinderen and his friends (who had never come into contact with the people) as to whether there were ancient customs prevalent in Acheh conflicting with the law of Islam. Supposing it to be true that they "did not understand the meaning of the question", the blame for this rests on him who asked it. It is undoubtedly the easiest way to conduct an enquiry to address a sort of catechism to some individuals, and then to accept as of solid worth any follies they may choose to retail to you in reply, but to do so is to trifle with a serious subject.
The chiefs were naturally afraid that an affirmative answer might give rise to all kinds of new enactments "in conflict with the law of Islam". Besides, they would be very slow to admit that any of their institutions was in conflict with Islam, and indeed are as a rule quite ignorant as to whether such is the case or not, being neither jurists
- ↑ This is incorrect. He was himself called Meukuta Alam after his death, and his ordinances are thus known as Adat Meukuta Alam.
- ↑ Company. This appellation is taken from the Dutch E. India Company and has taken such root in the native mind that it is still used to designate the Government even after the "Company" proper has ceased to exist. Similarly in the Straits Settlements "Kompani" (= the East India Company) has survived the decease of that trading association and is still universally used to denote the British Government. (Translator).
