Page:Christiaan Snouck Hurgronje - The Achehnese - tr. Arthur Warren Swete O'Sullivan (1906).djvu/145

 (the hands) into oil") is an ordeal requiring for its success that he who boils the oil should be able to do so in the proper manner and should know by heart the necessary incantations. Then the hand of the guilty person and none other will be scalded.

In like manner pumuëʾ breuëh ("bolting of raw rice") has the desired result only when the requisite incantations are uttered over the rice. Then it is the guilty one alone that fails to swallow the rice.

Another ordeal is teumanòm ("burying something"). The ulèëbalang calls together all the suspected persons into the meunasah, and gives them three days time to restore the stolen object secretly to its owner. Should this not be done they must again assemble. Then some person skilled in magic art "enchants" a kundur-fruit (bòh kundō), and this is buried where the main road enters the gampōng. The result is that the stomach of the guilty party quickly swells up or bursts.

Peuliëh beusòë ("licking the hot iron") is also in use. This kind of ordeal is even expressly recognized in the so-called edict of Shamsul-alam.

A simpler plan, but one less effective than these ordeals, is the summoning of all the suspects into the meunasah, where the teungku causes them one by one to swear a solemn oath of exculpation. The usefulness of ordeals of course lies in the belief which the majority of the people have in them. Where they are made ready with the requisite circumstance and solemnity, the guilty party often confesses at once, before recourse is had to the actual trial, and even if this be not so, the demeanour of the criminal at the commencement of the ordeal generally proclaims his guilt.

Knowing this, some ulèëbalangs have been wont to invite the attendance on such occasions of a teungku from some distant place, distinguished by a great beard or some other such impressive characteristic; this startling apparition has often resulted in confession.

In cases of petty theft it is not unusual for the thief to be kept imprisoned for some days in or near the residence of the ulèëbalang. Before being released he has to promise under oath never to steal again.

Next to theft illicit intercourse (Arab. zina, Ach. dina) claims our attention.