Page:Christiaan Snouck Hurgronje - The Achehnese - tr. Arthur Warren Swete O'Sullivan (1906).djvu/84

 Thus much is, however, certain, that from the earliest time three of the four kawōms were even when taken together inferior in numbers and strenghstrength [sic] to the fourth, and therefore combined in opposition to the latter. Through this conjunction and also perhaps through attendant political circumstances the nature of which we can now hardly conjecture, this trio of tribes succeeded, at the time when the Achehnese passed from what we have termed the genealogical or patriarchal to the territorial distribution, in retaining for themselves the highest positions and excluding their common rival therefrom. Thus the united three restored the balance of power and even made it turn in their favour, but not before they had transferred the conflict to another sphere than that of the kawōms.

While the tribes Lhèë reutoïh, Chut (also known as Ja or Tōʾ) Sandang and Tōʾ or Ja Batèë all contributed members to the families of the the territorial chiefs or high officials to the chief town of the kingdom, no single member of the fourth tribe, the Imeum Peuët has attained to more than the modest rank of chief of a mukim.

The names of the kawōms teach us little; let us however recapitulate them.

1°. Lhèë reutoth, i. e. the Three Hundred, without doubt a peculiar title for a genealogical unit. If it may be assumed that three hundred families or three hundred fighting men were originally intended by the name, it is probable that we have to do with an ancient federation called into existence at some crisis of public necessity or conflict and afterwards remaining united and increasing in numbers chiefly if not altogether by propagation. But who can vouch for the correctness of this supposition?

2°. Chut, Ja or Tōʾ Sandang. Ja or Tōʾ as we have seen, means forefather. Both names, like eumpèë (Mal. ěmpu) are also applied to revered and personified objects, such as sacred trees, wells, rocks and cliffs, the worship of which clearly dates from heathenish times, but has here survived in spite of Islam.

Chut properly means "little". It is used as a prefix to the names of children and (at least in more recent times) of men and women of position. Sandang, which properly means "to carry something under the arm suspended to a rope or strap passing over the shoulder", is also sometimes used as a male proper name.