Page:Christiaan Snouck Hurgronje - The Achehnese Vol II. - tr. Arthur Warren Swete O'Sullivan (1906).djvu/130

 Now follows the story, told at great length, of the cutting out of the Hok Canton (Ach. Kōntōm) by T. Uma. Here too the narrative is vitiated by the poet's anxiety to represent the whole affair as the outcome of a well concerted plan of T. Uma's for the discomfiture of the kafirs.

The expeditions of the Gōmpeuni against Lhōʾ Glumpang and Rigaïh were also fruitless. They could not succeed either in overtaking and punishing Teuku Uma, nor in liberating the imprisoned "Nyōnya." The chief Pòchut Mamat with a number of women were indeed brought as captives to Kuta Raja, but the Tuan Beusa (Governor) himself had to admit upon enquiry that these people were wholly free from all blame for what had occurred.

The poet describes the expeditions of T. Uma with the imprisoned nyōnya, and the great concourse of people brought together by curiosity to behold for the first time in their lives an European woman.

The Tuan Beusa was covered with shame, especially when he reflected on the possible criticisms of the English. He took counsel in the first place with the Panglima Meuseugit Raya, a relative of Teuku Uma. The Panglima undertook a mission to negotiate with the latter, but could obtain no better terms for the release of the captive than a ransom of $40,000. Recourse was then had to Teuku Baʾét (ulèëbalang of the VII Mukims of the XXII). His negotiations with T. Uma are described in a jocose vein; they result in the reduction of the sum demanded to $ 25,000.