Page:Christiaan Snouck Hurgronje - The Achehnese Vol II. - tr. Arthur Warren Swete O'Sullivan (1906).djvu/107

 hastened to the capital to take advantage of the disorder which usually follows on the death of the reigning chief in Acheh. The eldest son and successor of Ahmat Shah is known under the name of Pòteu Uëʾ, but in our epic poem he is more frequently alluded to as Raja Muda, whilst his name after his accession to the throne was Alaédin Juhan Shah. He reigned for a quarter of a century (1735–60), but in the early years after he came to the throne had a hard fight to wage with Jeumalōy, who no more than two days after the death of Pòteu Uëʾs father established himself in Gampōng Jawa and could reckon, both in Acheh Proper and in Pidië, on the support of certain considerable chiefs.

We might rather say that he ought to have maintained the contest, for our epic clearly shows that he failed to do so, and sooner than undergo much trouble and expense, was content to watch Jeumalōy enthroned and playing the king over his adherents not half a march from his palace gates. It was the youngest of the three brothers of the king (Pòchut Kléng, Pòchut Sandang and Pòchut Muhamat) whose activity put an end to this untenable position.

"A country ruled—unhappy land, how shall it stand?—by monarchs twain!" It was in these words that Pòchut Muhamat gave expression to his indignation; and these words form the introduction to Teungku Lam Rukam's heroic poem.

The first part recounts a dream of Pòchut Muhamat. It is not remarkable for clearness of meaning and is apparently introduced in imitation of earlier models. Suffice it to say that this dream predicted the downfall of Acheh, unless an end should be made of the prevailing disorder. For the space of three days Pòchut Muhamat held counsel with the princes, his elder brothers, and finally announced his fixed intention of withdrawing to Batu Bara, a province on the East Coast of Sumatra, whose inhabitants were the greatest enemies or the most intractable subjects of Jeumalōy, and there making preparations for war, unless his brothers either themselves set their hands to the work or enabled him, the youngest, to do so, by supplying him with the necessary funds.

The eldest of the three, Pòchut Kléng, went to inform the king of this resolve in the name of all. But the indolent monarch was alarmed at the idea, and replied that the young lad must be admonished to