Page:Christiaan Snouck Hurgronje - The Achehnese - tr. Arthur Warren Swete O'Sullivan (1906).djvu/374

 When the bridegroom enters the meunasah with a small following from his own gampōng, his companions open a bundle which they have brought with them, and in which are rolled up two handsome sleeping mats and a number of costly cushions. These represent the future bridal couch, and are spread for the bridegroom to sit on during the making of the contract. Close by is placed a bowl (mundam) of water, wherewith the teungku and the bridegroom rinse their mouths before commencing the ceremony. As the name of Allah is to be invoked, it is not fitting that any remnants of food, tobacco or such should defile the instrument to be used in glorifying God.

The attendants of the bridegroom also place in the foreground a platter (baté) containing the sum of money given as a wedding-present (jinamèë). The jinamèë is seldom mentioned in the contract, since it is in every case pretty closely defined by the adat. The jinamèë for the daughters of princes of the blood (tuankus) amounts to 500 dollars, or according to the old-fashioned mode of expression, "a kati (1¼ lb.) of gold" (sikatòë meuïh); for those of persons of distinction (ureuëng ulèë) such as ulèëbalangs, imeums and others who are their equals in rank or wealth, 100 dollars or 4 bungkays of gold; for those of middle rank (ureuëng peuteungahan), such as keuchiʾs, teungkus, wakis and the like, 50 dollars or 2 bungkays of gold, and for the lesser folk 25 dollars or 1 bungkay. He who marries a poor woman need only give one or two tahés (tahils) or even less.

The jinamèës here spoken of have reference only to marriage with a maiden; in other cases they depend mainly on mutual consent.

As a rule the dowry is paid at the conclusion of the contract. In