Page:Christiaan Snouck Hurgronje - The Achehnese Vol II. - tr. Arthur Warren Swete O'Sullivan (1906).djvu/185

 wards gives the lie to Dalikha's preposterous explanation of the matter. Usōh is imprisoned, not as a suspect, but because he turns the heads of all women.

In the years of famine Usōh's brethren journey over the sea to Meusé. In the end, after Adid's death, Usōh weds Dalikha and becomes king. He begets a son, who is named Ahmat.

The meeting of Usōh with his father takes place in the plain of Hunòynèn>.

Praʾun (LVIII).

This hikayat, which comes as a sequel to the last, gives with much wealth of detail the history of king Praʾun (Pharaoh) and the prophet Musa (Moses). It resembles in the main the same story in the Malay version of the history of the prophets, but exhibits many variations and additions. It would be impossible without a detailed review of its contents which would occupy far too much space, to give a correct idea of the nature and extent of these differences.

We shall however notice one which though not perhaps of Achehnese origin, particularly accords with the taste of the people, who have a great admiration for craftiness. In the long conflict between the heathen Praʾun and Musa, the line of conduct of this divine messenger is of course dictated by Allah. After sundry moral and miraculous victories Musa observes that Praʾun has not yet lost all his power. Allah discloses to him the reason of this; Praʾun has three virtues—he gives much in alms, lets his beard grow, and rises betimes in the morning. From these three habits, says God to his prophet, you must break him off, for as long as he continues to perform these good