Page:Christiaan Snouck Hurgronje - The Achehnese - tr. Arthur Warren Swete O'Sullivan (1906).djvu/353

 two individuals in all counting friends and acquaintances, have consulted together (to make him a bridegroom).

He it is, whose hand the Teungku held in the presence of two witnesses. Make him over to all of us now, O Teuku! As the saying goes:

Thatch made of sugarcane-leaves at three mas the thousand.

The agreement has already been entered into, let it be carried out to night.

B. Well then, Teuku, according to your request we give him over to you, if Allah so will : keep his feet from straying, follow his inclinations in what is right, help him in his difficulties and check him if he transgresses ,

A. God willing, we do so with joy (lit. "on our head").

The bridegroom is now sought out, and led up the stairs of the house by his companions. He stops half-way, however, to be besprinkled with husked and unhusked rice (breuëh-padé) by an elder of the bride's gampōng, who sits at the top of the steps. The elder, while he throws the contents of the small bowl or baté by handfuls in the face of the bridegroom (who protects himself with a fan) pronounces the following blessing:

"O Allah, bless our Lord Mohammad and the family of our Lord Mohammad.

Far be the curse, far be the calamity, let there be good fortune, let there be peace, may you have prosperity, may you have happiness, may children and grandchildren be given you, in numbers as the mibò-bushes in swampy land, may you beget three children in the year and marry two of them every year, may your children succeed each other at long intervals" (ironically said, as appears from what follows), "while the elder sister is still only able to lie on her back, may the younger be born; may you have children in trusses like padi in swampy land; may you have children like a plant that ever shoots up afresh, may it be even as a bamboo with many joints".