Page:Christiaan Snouck Hurgronje - The Achehnese - tr. Arthur Warren Swete O'Sullivan (1906).djvu/438

 stitution of Achehnese family life, which has now fallen into disuse, it may be asserted conclusively that both the demand and the enquiry as to means of support are now mere formalities. These are, however, never omitted by the walis of the deceased, because otherwise public opinion would condemn them as completely indifferent to the fate of children closely related to them.

When the widow re-marries, new formalities are observed. The adat is for the walis of a deceased person to offer his widow a new marriage subject to her consent. Sometimes one of the walis offers himself as the dead man's successor; or another suitor is sought, who is regarded as a suitable person to act as father to the surviving children in the future. If this suitor is accepted, the childrens' interests are considered to be as well assured as where the widow does not marry again.

She has of course full liberty to contract another marriage. If she makes use of this freedom, the walis of the deceased lie in wait for and "steal" pro formâ the latter's child, which cannot yet choose for itself. After a day or so, the new husband, attended by an elder from the mother's gampōng, comes and politely begs for the restoration of the child. This request is generally granted; the walis however remain on the watch, as becomes careful guardians, and if the step-father proves to be a good-for-naught, they demand back the pledge which they have entrusted to him.

Where the woman dies leaving a young child, its surrender is demanded in like manner, but of course in the father's name. As a rule it is only entrusted to him if his wife's mother be already dead. Should the latter be still living, she begs to be allowed to retain the child. This request may be made in one or other of two ways. She may reply, when called on to surrender it, "give me the child in life and death", and if this wish is acceded to, the father or his wali have no right to demand the body of the child in the event of its death. Sometimes however the grandmother says "Give it to me during life; should it die I shall return it to your hands".

Great importance is indeed attached to the disposal of the body