Page:Christiaan Snouck Hurgronje - The Achehnese - tr. Arthur Warren Swete O'Sullivan (1906).djvu/98

 among these is the simultaneous intoning of the terribly noisy ratéb saman (Ar. ratib Sammān, from the saint of that name who lived at Medina a couple of centuries ago). This litany is also popular in Java and may be heard almost every week in many Batavian kampongs.

The young people, however, delight more in the chanting of other ratébs which have in common with the religious litanies only the name and the noise, such as the ratéb pulèt and the ratéb sadati, which we shall notice under the heading of games and recreations. Thus there are always to be found among the furniture of the meunasah, in addition to the tambu aforesaid, certain objects required for these ratébs, such as the kettledrums called rapaʾi or rapana, the wooden rings known as pulèt etc.

With these exceptions the furniture of the meunasah is but scanty; a large lamp (kandé) only lighted on the nights of the fasting month, it being left at other times to those who use the meunasah to bring their own lamps if they require them; sleeping-mats which each lays down for himself, and an occasional mosquito-curtain (kleumbu) form its entire equipment.

Where the heads of the village are not both pious and watchful, the meunasah it apt to become the scene of all manner of Achehnese iniquities. In its courtyard fights of cocks and other fighting birds are held, while within the building gambling goes on and paederasty is shamelessly practised at night.

Besides being a sleeping-place for the men, a rest-house for strangers and a house of prayer or chapel, the meunasah also serves as a place of assemblage on various special occasions. The affairs of the gampōng are there debated, village festivals held, contracts of marriage concluded etc. A person of rank who comes from elsewhere to pay an unexpected visit to the people of the gampōng, usually goes in the first place to the meunasah, and from thence sends someone to announce his arrival.

Some gampōng-chapels are built not on posts but on a raised stone foundation finished on the top with cement. A stone stairs gives access to the building which is itself generally of wood, with a masonry niche (mèhrab or mèrab) to indicate the direction of Mecca. Its courtyard is sometimes surrounded by a low stone wall forming a square. Such more imposing structures are called déah, and fulfil the same purposes