Page:Christiaan Snouck Hurgronje - The Achehnese Vol II. - tr. Arthur Warren Swete O'Sullivan (1906).djvu/196

 regard to style also the work belongs to the poorest part of the Achehnese literature.

Abu Samaïh (LXXIII).

Abu Shaḥmah was the name of a son of the second caliph Umar. It is told of him that the Prefect of Egypt under the latter scourged him for using wine; when he returned to Medina Umar had him scourged a second time and he died shortly afterwards.

In the Achehnese legend which is embroidered on this framework, Abu Samaïh is said to have been an excellent reciter of the Qurān, but to have become a prey to self-conceit. As a means to cure himself of this fault, he let himself be over-persuaded by a Jew to take strong drink, and in his cups he had an intrigue with this Jew's daughter. When the child born of this intercourse was shown to Umar, he had his son scourged to death in spite of the prayers of the faithful and the tears of the celestial nymphs.

Hikayat Sòydina Amdah or Tambihōnisa (LXXIV).

This little poem borrows its name, not from its actual theme but from its opening verses. It begins with a versified list of holy places, especially at Mekka and Medina, but elsewhere as well, set down without any regard to order. Every couplet in this list is followed by another containing a prayer for welfare and blessing. The first place mentioned is the grave of Mohammads' uncle Hamzah (Ach. Amdah) on the mountain of Uhud (Ach. Ahat).

Women are in the habit of chanting (meuchakri) this poem when they join in holding a ratéb Saman. It is to this custom that the poem owes its second name of Tambihōnisa i. e. "Admonition of women".

Another hikayat which is often chanted in the womens' ratébs, whence