Page:Christiaan Snouck Hurgronje - The Achehnese - tr. Arthur Warren Swete O'Sullivan (1906).djvu/119

 gampōngs allotted to the imeums according to the original intent of the distribution into mukims. In Acheh as in other Mohammedan countries, so soon as a degree of religious supervision is permitted to any individual, a wide field is opened to his ambition, since in theory everything can be brought within the scope of religion and religious law. At the same time the door is opened to manifold competition and strife, since the existing chiefs naturally set their faces against any unwonted invasion of their sphere of authority.

So much is certain, that the imeums were necessarily always subordinate to the ulèëbalangs, to whom they owed their election, while they stood superior in some respects at least to the authorities of the gampōng.

Their office, however, speedily degenerated; it went the way of all Achehnese offices which have not sprung up of their own accord from native sources, but have been naturalized in the country at the will of individuals. In the times of some sultans of unusual power and energy, the central authority undoubtedly proved strong enough to carry out the ruler’s wish to reform existing institutions. But to ensure the durability of such reforms, the moving power should have been less short-lived, and there should have been more continuity in the action and methods of the various rulers.

Apart from the small interest which the port-kings were wont to display in the affairs of the interior, their government was always based on rapacity, and disorder was its only constant feature.

Every office instituted by them showed a tendency soon after coming into being, to assimilate itself with one of true Achehnese origin, preferably such as carried with it social influence and opportunities for enrichment. No office was more distinguished by these characteristics than that of ulèëbalang, and thus we see all holders of offices so artificially created endeavouring by every means in their power to assume the rôle of ulèëbalang.

This was done by the imeums among the rest, and they succeeded pretty well in their object. We have unequivocal proofs to show that more than half a century ago, the imeums were already minor ulèëbalangs.

A celebrated Achehnese heroic poem, the hikayat Pòchut Muhamat, depicts with no small skill the conflict waged by that prince in behalf of his brother Alaédin Juhan Shah (1756–60) against the latter's Arab rival Jamalul-alam. In spite of sundry embroideries which characterize