Page:Christiaan Snouck Hurgronje - The Achehnese - tr. Arthur Warren Swete O'Sullivan (1906).djvu/339

 body. The ratèb sadati and pulèt are also very popular. The people of the gampōng take care that the players are entertained at the expense of the family who give the feast, while they themselves enjoy both the good cheer and the show that accompanies it.

The three nights of feasting are only distinguished from one another by the arbitrary changes in the form of the amusements. The day following the third gacha-night is called the andam-day (uròë meuʾandam), since the bride's toilette, of which the andam (i. e. the shaving off of a portion of her hair) constitutes the part esteemed as of the highest importance, is completed thereon.

From two to four days beforehand the people of the gampōng issue invitations to guests both male and female to attend this ceremony. They assemble at this kanduri at uncertain times; the concourse lasts from early in the morning till about 3 They are received by the gampōng-folk; the women go to the samòë likōt, while the men take their place in the sramòë reunyeun. Food is placed before each of the guests immediately on his arrival.

No guest comes with empty hands. They hand over their respective gifts, one a dollar, another a goat, and so on, to the elder who acts as master of the ceremonies (peutimang jamèë or peutimang buët). Where the bride is the daughter of an ulèëbalang, even buffaloes are presented. Where a married couple attends the feast, the man and his wife bring separate gifts.

Those invited as guests are for the most part, besides intimate friends, the relations of the bride and more distant kindred of the bridegroom.

The adat contains a curious rule in regard to the return gifts to be made to those of the two last-mentioned classes. To such of them as belong to a generation younger than that of the bride, a sum of money must be paid at their departure equal to double the value of the gifts which they have brought.

The andam must be performed before midday; no blessing rests on it unless it take place while the sun is still ascending (uròë éʾ). Though