Page:Christiaan Snouck Hurgronje - The Achehnese Vol II. - tr. Arthur Warren Swete O'Sullivan (1906).djvu/264

 as in the latter, the play holds the audience because it deals with all in the way of national tradition, science, religion and art that has grown to be the property of the mass of the people. In both alike, the material handed down by tradition is interwoven with sallies which contain allusions to living persons or those who have but lately passed away, to present events or those in the recent past. Love and war supply both with inexhaustible themes.

The sadati performance has, besides, all the attractions of a trial of skill, even though there is no stake, and though victory and defeat depend on the fiat of the audience alone.

This decision is almost always unanimous. That party which displays in the ratéb duëʾ the most graceful and best studied movements, which intones most correctly and can most successfully imitate its rivals when it comes to their turn to play, is said to "gain the victory in the ratéb" (meunang baʾ ratéb); while that which puts the neatest questions to its opponents, scores the wittiest hits against them, and has command of the greatest variety of kisahs, "gains the victory in the nasib" (meunang baʾ nasib). It seldom happens that either audience or players have any doubt as to who deserves the palm.

Another equally popular variation of the travesty of the true ratéb is the ratéb pulèt, also known as ratéb chuëʾ or rateb bruëʾ. The performance takes it name from its special feature, namely playing in rhythmic unison with a number of wooden rings known as bòh pulèt or bruëʾ pulèt. The upper circumference of these rings has a greater diameter than the lower, so that they may be compared to the rim of a funnel cut off horizontally.

This ratéb is also of the nature of a contest; two parties, chosen if possible from different gampōngs, take up their position opposite each other in the seuëng (booth) or meunasah. Each party consists of from 8 to 20 players; behind each company sit one or two reciters called