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Now follows the story, told at great length, of the cutting out of the Hok Canton[1] (Ach. Kōntōm) by T. Uma. Here too the narrative is vitiated by the poet's anxiety to represent the whole affair as the outcome of a well concerted plan of T. Uma's for the discomfiture of the kafirs.
The expeditions of the Gōmpeuni against Lhōʾ Glumpang and Rigaïh were also fruitless. They could not succeed either in overtaking and punishing Teuku Uma, nor in liberating the imprisoned "Nyōnya." The chief Pòchut Mamat with a number of women were indeed brought as captives to Kuta Raja, but the Tuan Beusa (Governor) himself had to admit upon enquiry that these people were wholly free from all blame for what had occurred.
The poet describes the expeditions of T. Uma with the imprisoned nyōnya, and the great concourse of people brought together by curiosity to behold for the first time in their lives an European woman.
The Tuan Beusa was covered with shame, especially when he reflected on the possible criticisms of the English. He took counsel in the first place with the Panglima Meuseugit Raya, a relative of Teuku Uma. The Panglima undertook a mission to negotiate with the latter, but could obtain no better terms for the release of the captive than a ransom of $40,000. Recourse was then had to Teuku Baʾét (ulèëbalang of the VII Mukims of the XXII). His negotiations with T. Uma are described in a jocose vein; they result in the reduction of the sum demanded to $ 25,000.
- ↑ The Hok Canton was a British-owned steamer belonging to Chinese traders in Penang, trading to Acheh under Dutch colours. Her Captain was a Dane named Hansen, and his wife was with him on board at the time of the attack. On the 14th June 1886 at 9 A.M. as the vessel lay in the roads of Rigas (Rigaïh) on the W. Coast of Acheh, she was attacked by Teuku Uma and his followers, who had been received on board as guests by the captain. During the fight which ensued the chief mate and chief engineer were killed, and the captain seriously wounded; Mrs Hansen also received a slight wound, After plundering the vessel the Achehnese returned to shore taking with them as captives the Captain and his wife, the second engineer (an Englishman named John Fay) and six native seamen, A brig called the "Eagle" was in the roads at the time. Her Captain (Roura) was on shore awaiting Teuku Uma's return from the steamer. Finding that he did not return, he boarded the Hok Canton and took her to Olehleh. Negociations ensued between the English and Dutch governments, the captives being meantime held to ransom by Teuku Uma, who demanded $ 50,000 for their release. They were well treated, but in the absence of proper medical aid the Captain died of his wounds and Mrs Hansen (the nyōnya" of the present story) and the engineer Fay suffered much from sickness. A ransom of 62,500 guilders was eventually paid and they were liberated in the beginning of September 1886. (Translator).
