ÖÖI 8x 3 ^c- 0 - Acehbooks.org

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3o6 S U M A T R A .
The fpirit of war is excited among thefe people by fmall provocation,
and their refolutions for carrying it into effect are foon taken. Their
life appears, in fact, to be a perpetual ftate of hoftility, and they are
always prepared for attack and defence. When they proceed to put
their defigns into execution, the firft act of defiance is firing, without
ball, into the campong of their enemies. Three days are then allowed
for the party fired upon, to propofe terms of accommodation, and if
this is not done, or the terms are fuch as cannot be agreed to, war is
then fully declared. This ceremony of firing with powder only, is
ftyled, " carrying fmoke to the adverfary." During the courfe of their
wars, which fometimes laft for two or three years, they feldom meet
openly in the field, or attempt to decide their contefl by a general engagement;
as the mutual lofs of a dozen men might go near to ruin
bo:h parties; nor do they often venture a direct attack upon each others
campongs; but watch opportunities of picking off ftragglers paffing
through the woods. A party of three or four will conceal themfelves
near the footways, and if they fee any of their foes, they fire, and run
'away immediately; planting ranjews (fharp flakes) after them, to prevent
purfuit. On thefe occafions a man will fubfifr. upon a potatoe a day,
in which they have much the advantage of the Malays, (againft whom
they are often engaged in warfare) who require to be better fed.
Fortifications. They fortify their campongs with large ramparts of earth, half way
up which they plant brufh-wood. There is a ditch without the rampart,
and on each fide of that, a tall palifade of camphire timber. Beyond
this, is an impenetrable hedge of the prickly bamboo, which, when of
fufficient growth, acquires a furprizing denfity, and perfectly conceals
all appearance of a town. Ranjows, of a length both for the body, and
the feet, are difpofed without all thefe, and render the approaches hazardous
to affailants who are almoft naked. At each corner of the fortrefs,
inftead of a tower or watch-houfe, they contrive to have a tall tree, which
they afcend to reconnoitre or fire from. But they are not fond of remaining
on the defenfive in their campongs, and therefore, leaving a
few to guard them, ufually advance into the plains, and throw up temporary