Page:Christiaan Snouck Hurgronje - The Achehnese - tr. Arthur Warren Swete O'Sullivan (1906).djvu/78

 enough asleep to admit of their carrying out their nefarious purposes. If they hear from the jurèë or the front verandah the cry "who is that shaking the house?" they know that the time is unfavourable for their task.

Men who have forbidden intrigues with the wife or daughter of the house make known their presence in the same way, so that the object of their affections may come out to them if opportunity occurs.

The same course is adopted by the revengeful, who seek treacherously to slay the master of the house. Having ascertained that the latter is sound asleep in the jurèë they can generally ascertain, as they stand underneath the house, on what part of the floor he is lying. Then follow one or two rapid spear-thrusts through the thin planks, and all is over.

To force one's way into the house at night is difficult, as the doors are fastened with wooden bolts (ganchéng, aneuʾ ganchéng) and besides every movement inside the house would be likely owing to the instability of the floor, to wake the inmates up.

Many houses are regarded as possessed, because their inmates are continually falling sick. To protect a house from such malign influences various expedients are adopted.

A favourable time for commencing to build is carefully chosen. The work always begins with the setting up of the two principal posts with the cross-beams that unite them; while this is in progress, sundry prayers and formulas are repeated. These two posts which when the house is completed stand in the jurèë, are called the raja and the putròë (prince and princess). For them the soundest and best wood is selected; the raja is first set up and then the putròë. At a wedding the bridegroom takes his place next the "prince" post, while the bride occupies a seat under the "princess".

Should the ceremonies at the setting up of the principal pillars prove propitious for continuing to build, then as soon as the house is finished a lucky day is again chosen for moving into it.

On this occasion a kanduri or religious feast is given, to which the teungku of the meunasah (vide inf. § 5) and some leubòs are invited. After this gathering there commences the customary "cooling" (