Page:Christiaan Snouck Hurgronje - The Achehnese - tr. Arthur Warren Swete O'Sullivan (1906).djvu/248

 Whilst the leubès stand and chant their hymn, the others crowd around and hand them pieces of black thread in which they tie knots while continuing to chant. These knotted threads are placed round the necks of the children in the firm conviction that they constitute infallible charms.

In Java it is customary to make the maulut-recitations the occasion for initiating certain homely industries such as knitting the first meshes of a fishing-net, commencing the hem of a garment etc., in order that the Prophet's blessing may rest upon their task. This is not done in Acheh; here the fishermen set up their nets (jeuë, nyarèng or pukat) on a Friday, sitting at the entrance of the mosque while the devout pass in to take part in the weekly service.

After the prayer, the people of the gampōng and their guests commence their onslaught on the good cheer that awaits them. The Javanese custom of carrying home the remnants of the feast (under the name of běrkat = "blessing") after a religious festival is not the fashion in Acheh ; each one takes away what is left of the idang which forms his own contribution to the feast.

Wealthy persons sometimes give separate Mòʾlōt feasts in their own homes, but choose another day than that fixed for the kanduri of their gampōng—generally the 12th of the month, which is seldom chosen for the public celebration. All attend the latter, not excepting the ulèëbalangs themselves.

A specially great kanduri Mòʾlōt is held on the actual Mòʾlōt day at the tomb of Teungku Anjōng in Gampōng Jawa. On this occasion one or more buffaloes are slaughtered, and besides those who assemble in the déah to partake of the feast, sundry ulamas have a share therein, pieces of meat being sent them by the guardian of the tomb.

The superstitious belief that no work of importance should be initiated before the 12$th$ day of Mòʾlōt is commonly met with in Java, but never in Acheh. The whole of this month, as well as its "younger