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on this day all that they wished of the victuals, sirih, tobacco etc. displayed on the stalls. Owing, however, to the large attendance at the fair and the unusually large number of sellers, these last did not individually suffer much from the depredations of this little band of marauders.
The names given to the three non-official feast days correspond exactly with the herald's proclamation. Collectively they are known as uròë maʾmeugang, which appears to mean "days of the inauguration of the fast"[1].
The first day, that is the 27th or 28th of the month, is called uròë peutrōn = "the day of the bringing down," the next uròë pupòʾ = "the day of the fighting," and the last uròë seumeusië = "the slaughter day." This is also specially known as uròë maʾmeugang.
We must not attach too exact a significance to these names. Live stock were brought down to the town before as well as on the uròë peutrōn and also if necessary on the following day. The uròë pupòʾ was not devoted to beastfights as the word might lead us to suppose. Popular as this amusement is among the Achehnese, no one had time for it on this busiest of all market days. The name was given half in jest, because this was the day of the fair on which most cattle were sold and thus underwent examination with a view to their purchase. This examination is named after the trial of strength of their beasts which excites such universal interest among Achehnese onlookers.
The great crowding and bustle of the uròë pupòʾ always gave rise to street fights, generally originating in accidental affronts such as occur in all densely crowded gatherings. It is said that the highlanders, ever eager for fighting and pillage, used to seize the opportunity to appropriate their neighbours' goods during the conflict which they had purposely provoked with that very object.
The "day of slaughter," alone of the three, corresponds exactly with its name. On this day the teungku slaughters the beasts, the authorities of the gampōng divide the meat among the purchasers, the women cook it; in short, the whole community is in a state of incessant bustle.
In spite of the coming privations the approach of the fasting month
- ↑ In Malay the days immediately preceding the fast are called měměgang or hari měměgang while the Javanese name them měgěng. The Achehnese attach no special meaning to the expression and regards it as being of foreign origin.
