THE ACHEHNESE - Acehbooks.org

The science A very important class of eleume'e for all Achehnese, but especially
bility VU nCia " ^ or chiefs, panglimas and soldiers, is that known as eleume'e keubay,
34
i. e. the science of invulnerability. This used also to be held in high
esteem in Java, witness the numerous primbons ') or manuals extant
upon this subject. The principles on which this group of eleume'e is
based are (i) the somewhat pantheistic scheme of philosophy to which
we have alluded above 2 ) and (2) the theory that a knowledge of the
essence, attributes and names of any substance gives complete control
over the substance itself.
The science The combination of these two notions causes a knowledge of the
innermost nature of iron (the ma'ripat beusbe, as it is called) to form
a most important factor in endowing man with the power of resisting
this metal when wrought into various weapons. The argument is as
follows. All elements of iron are of course present in man, since man
is the most complete revelation of God, and God is All. The whole
creation is a kind of evolution of God from himself, and this evolution
takes place along seven lines or grades (meureutabat tujoh), eventually
returning again into the Unity through the medium of man. In the
earth then all elements are united and capable of changing places with
one another. Now the ,eleumee of iron has the power of producing on
any part of the human body that is exposed to the attack of iron or
lead, a temporary formation of iron or some still stronger element
that makes the man keubay or invulnerable.
Treatment Mercury (ra'sa) is regarded as exercising a mysterious influence over
with mercury. ^ e pjjjgj metals; hence one of the most popular methods of attaining
invulnerability is the introduction of mercury in a particular manner
into the human body (peutambng ra'sa). This treatment can only be
successful when resorted to under the guidance of a skilled guree. So
every Achehnese chief has, in addition to many advisers on the subject
of invulnerability, one special instructor 3 ) known as urcueng peutambng
ra'sa keubay or ra'sa saleh.
Preparation Ordinarily the treatment is prepared for by at least seven days kalu'et
of treatment (doing of penance by religious seclusion) in a separate dwelling near
1) See Vol. I p. 198.
2) P. 10 et seq.
3) The guree of Teuku Ne' was a man from Batee Hie' in Samalanga; that of Teuku
Nya' Banta (panglima of the XXVI Mukims) is called Teungku di l'agar Ruyueng; that of
Panglima Meuseugit Raya is Teungku Gam, said to come from Daya. There is also a certain
Teungku di Lapang who enjoys great celebrity.