ÖÖI 8x 3 ^c- 0 - Acehbooks.org

S U M A T R A . 213
years fince, raifed to the higheft pitch of family feud. LeJJoot, a younger
brother of the Pangeran, had a wife who was very handfome, and whom
Raddeen Seeban had endeavored to procure, whilft a virgin, for his younger
brother, who was in love with her: but the pangeran had found means
to circumvent him, and obtained the girl for Lejfoot. However, it feems
the lady herfelf had conceived a violent liking for the brother of Raddeen
Seeban, who found means to enjoy her after fhe was married, or was violently
fufpeéted fo to have done. The confequence was, that Lejfoot killed
him, to revenge the difhonor of his bed. Upon this the families
were prefently up in arms, but the Englifti Refident interfering, preferved
the peace of the country, and fettled the affair agreeably to the cuftoms
of the place, by bangoon and fine. But this did not prove fufficient to
extinguifh the fury which raged in the hearts of Raddeen Seeban's family,
whofe relation was murdered. It only ferved to delay their revenge, 'till
a proper opportunity offered of gratifying it. The people of the country
being called together on a particular occafion, the two inimical families
were affembled, at the fame time, in Manna bazar. Two younger brothers
(they had been five in all) of Raddeen Seeban, going to the cockpit,
faw Raja Moodo, the next brother of the pangeran, and Lejfoot his younger
brother, in the open part "of a houfe which they paffed. They quickly
returned, drew their creefes, and'attacked the pangarari's brothers, calling
to them, u if they were men to defend themfelves." The challenge was
inftantly accepted. Lejfoot, the unfortunate huiband, fell, but the aggreffors
were both killed by Raja Moodo, who was himfelf much wounded.
The affair was almoft over before the fcuffle was perceived. The bodies
were lying on the ground, and Raja Moodo was fupporting himfelf againft
a tree which flood near the fpot, when Raddeen Seeban, who was in a houfe
on the oppofite fide of the bazar at the time the affray happened, being
made acquainted with the circumftances, came over the way, with
his lance in his hand. He paffed on the contrary fide of the tree, and
did not fee Raja Mcodo, but began to ftab with his weapon the dead body
of Lejfoot, in excefs of rage, on feeing the bloody remains of his two brothers.
Juft then, Raja Moodo, who was half dead, but had his creefe
in his hand, ftill unfeen by Raddeen Seeban, crawled a ftep or two and
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