Page:Christiaan Snouck Hurgronje - The Achehnese - tr. Arthur Warren Swete O'Sullivan (1906).djvu/142

 "So then, oh Teuku ampōn, having come into the gampōng, I took some buffalo fodder and laid it in the manger. Then I saw that the beast did not approach. I felt for the rope; there was no rope to be found. Then I approached the door of the stall and found it standing open. Then I wandered hither and thither till I came upon a man leading a buffalo in a place which is only separated from my house by a single garden.

"Thereupon, oh Teuku ampōn, I cried out, who is that leading a buffalo? but he answered not. Then I drew my sikin and called help! help! He took his stand against me, I smote at him and there lay the leader of the buffalo dead!

"As to the buffalo, oh Teuku ampōn, it is my property. For the rest, as concerns the man, if the Supreme God so will, it shall be as ye, oh Teukus who are my kings, shall be pleased to decide. What name shall we call this dead man by?

"Thus much only have I to say."

After the hearing of this or a similar story, the ulèëbalang says to those present:

"What is your opinion, Teukus, in regard to what this man (or this master) has related?"

A chorus of the villagers here interrupts:

"That is clear enough, it may at once be answered, oh Teuku!"

The ulèëbalang however transfers this task to his proxy speaker, one of the elders, and says to the latter, "let answer be made."

"How am I to answer?" he enquires.

"What means this 'how,' is it not clear enough?" pursues the ulèëbalang.

After this authorization the elder speaks thus:

"Good then, as to what this man has related, how stands it? Know ye that are here (this to the next of kin, neighbours etc. of the slayer) aught of it? Tell us what ye know."

The answer, given more or less in chorus, runs thus: It is established, even as this man has related it, oh Teuku ampōn, so is the knowledge of all of us."

The ulèëbalang to the elder: "well, if that be so, then is this fellow (the deceased) buffalo-flesh, it is permitted us to eat it!"