THE ACHEHNESE - Acehbooks.org

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over the treasury of God's mercy. Their prayers are believed to command
a blessing or a curse, and to have the power of causing sickness or
ensuring recovery. They know the formulas appointed of Allah for
sundry purposes, and their manner of living is sufficiently devout to
lend force to their spoken words. Even when some ignorant leube is
so honest as to decline the request of a mother that he should pronounce
a formula of prayer over her sick child, he cannot refuse her simple
petition that he will "at least blow upon it"; even the breath of one
who has some knowledge of book-lore and fulfils his ritual duties with
regularity, is credited with healing power by the ignorant people.
§ 5. Branches of knowledge not appertaining to the
threefold learning of Islam.
The eleume'e par excellence, as we have already seen, is the threefold
sacred learning (Pikah, Usuy and Teusazvoh) with the preliminary
branches (Nahu etc.), and the supplementary ones such as Teupeuse
and Hadih. We have also made a passing acquaintance with an eleume'e
which, chiefly owing to the heresy it involves, lies outside learning
proper, namely the eleume'e sale' '). There are besides a number of other
"sciences" which cannot be regarded as forming a part of "the learning".
These numerous eleumecs, like their namesakes among the Malays
and Javanese (ilmu, ngelmu), are if viewed according to our mode of
thought, simply superstitious methods of attaining sundry ends, whether
permissible or forbidden. A knowledge of these is considered indis­
pensable alike for the fulfilment of individual wishes and the successful
carrying on of all kinds of callings and occupations. For the forger of
weapons or the goldsmith, the warrior or the architect, a knowledge of
that mysterious hocus-pocus, the eleume'e which is regarded as appertaining
to his calling, is thought at least as important as the skill in his trade
which he acquires by instruction and practice. So too he that will
dispose of his merchandize, conquer the heart of one he loves, render
a foe innocuous, sow dissent between a wedded pair, or compass
whatever else is suggested to him by passion or desire, must not
1) See p. 13 above.