Page:Christiaan Snouck Hurgronje - The Achehnese - tr. Arthur Warren Swete O'Sullivan (1906).djvu/393

 is supposed to rest upon it. It often happens, however, that the buffalo is only handed over to the young woman pro formâ, and afterwards politely returned to the giver. In case of second marriages the adat of the keubeuë peunulang does not apply.

The woman herself always stays three complete days in the house of her parents-in-law. During this time she is the recipient of constant visits from her new connections, who come to offer presents of sirih and eggs. All these gifts she brings home with her. Her fellow-villagers who form her escort return home on the first day.

The husband, although usually present in his native gampōng during these days, takes no share of any kind in the festivities.

On her return journey, the wife is escorted by a crowd of people from the gampōng of her husband, and a procession of her own fellow-villagers comes out to welcome her back.

These meunarō ceremonies always take place even where both man and wife have been married before, and the same may be said of most adats connected with the first seven days of the marriage. In the case last referred to however there is less merry-making, and even though the bride be a young maiden, the circumstance of her husband being of a more advanced age usually imparts a calmer tone to the festivities.

After this first visit of the bride to her parents-in-law she goes to see them but seldom. It is only at the two great Mohammedan feasts that the adat requires her to go and make her respectful salutations (seumbah), for which she receives a further present of money. When she has been about three years married, she is absolved from the necessity of presenting herself on these occasions, and in any case receives no more money presents.

The parents and other blood-relations of the married pair also visit one another very rarely. It is only important events in the families on either side, especially deaths or marriages, which give occasion to such visits. Nor do the visitors come in a body but each at his own time. Each brings a present of a dollar or two by way of contribution to defray the expenses of the ceremonies. Those who receive such visits, on the other hand, are bound to entertain their guests