Page:Christiaan Snouck Hurgronje - The Achehnese Vol II. - tr. Arthur Warren Swete O'Sullivan (1906).djvu/282

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265

A. Alas, I see a labu plant; while it is being watered, its sprout dies.

Alas, I see my lord; while I set rice before him, he divorces me![1]

D. Go to the mountains and hew seumantōʾ-wood, let the top of the tree fall on the far side of the stream. My shape is ugly, my clothing is ragged: let me go and dwell in some quiet place.

A. Go to the mountains and hew planks: bring me with you to pick up the chips.

Let us live side by side, let us die together, let us have but one winding-sheet and one coffin.


Violin orchestra.Another orchestra, which is likewise employed to accompany the recitation of pantōns and the dance, is composed of:

1° The biula, i.e. the ordinary European violin, an instrument much beloved by the Achehnese, and on which some of them perform very creditably. The violin is also played alone, without any other instrument, to accompany pantōns, or for the amusement of the player himself or of small parties of friends.

2° A number (say from 5 to 7) of small tambourines called dabs, provided with bells like the rapaʾi or rapana, but smaller than these and made of finer and thinner wood.

3° A gōng, the familiar large metal disc, which is employed in Acheh for official proclamations such as the sranta (vol. I, pp. 226).

Achehnese pantōns are always recited to hareubab music, but the violin-orchestra is used to accompany Malay pantōns also. As a rule these last are sung by the musicians while two dancing boys hum the tune while they display their grace and skill in the meunari.

Where Achehnese pantons are sung in the violin orchestra the dancer (a boy or a woman) is generally singer also, or else takes turns with the musicians in singing.


§ 5. Processions and Popular Feasts.

Alangan processions.We have already more than once made mention of alangan-processions. These are held in connection with the marriages of persons of high rank or great wealth, on the occasion of the "offering of the


  1. According to another reading: "he chokes to death".