Page:Christiaan Snouck Hurgronje - The Achehnese - tr. Arthur Warren Swete O'Sullivan (1906).djvu/223

 has only power to make life unpleasant to the refractory within the limits of his own district.

Next to the ulamas, chiefs such as Teuku Uma play the most important part, but they do not form the soul of the movement of resistance. They have other objects in view than the holy war, objects which they would if necessary gladly avail themselves of our help to attain. Adat-chiefs have, it is true, occasionally risen superior to their inactivity, but this was due to the fact that the ulamas had for years taken the lead and they thus feared to find themselves deprived of all authority.

What the Dutch have had opposed to them in Acheh is not a Keumala party (such has never existed) nor disconnected bands of marauders, but a national pasty, so far as that is possible in Acheh, held together and organized by the ulama.

These ambitious men have the greatest interest in the continuance of hostilities. Indeed their material power is based on the sabil-contributions which the religious law empowers them to levy. These collections would abruptly cease if there were no infidels to fight against, and their enemy could do these ulamas no greater injury than by a complete evacuation of Acheh. The adat-chiefs would then bestir themselves to recover their former position, which would be an easy task under the altered circumstances. The ulamas would have to fall back upon their studies and their teaching, and only a few of exceptional talent and energy would succeed in attaining a measure of authority as moral reformers.

A large portion of the populace would rejoice at being set free from their yoke, for as we have repeatedly observed, their authority is based as much on dread as on reverence.

There are many who desire to pursue in peace their normal occupations, and especially agriculture, the "prince of all bread-winning", without being harassed by sabil-contributions or compelled to serve among the reserve of fighting men. There are many too who perceive the ambitious motives underlying the activity of the ulamas, even