Èleumèë was the Atjèhnese term for “heathen/pagan science” — the esoteric knowledge of formulas and incantations used by pawang’s (master fishermen and hunters) to control sea and forest spirits. Used in fishery and hunting, and also in peukeunong (magic charms), èleumèë was distinguished from èleumèë kitab (religious science based on Arabic theological works).
Nature
Èleumèë was the pre-Islamic, “heathen” or “pagan” esoteric knowledge that survived alongside Islamic learning, used by specialists (pawang’s) to deal with the spirit world. Passed down through apprenticeship, èleumèë was a key part of the pawang’s qualification.
Use in fishery
In fishery, the pawang (master fisherman) used èleumèë to control sea spirits. The pawang possessed formulas and incantations that could influence the spirits believed to inhabit the sea, ensuring good catches and protection from danger.
Use in hunting
In hunting, the pawang (leader of the hunt, expert in forest sciences) used èleumèë to ask the invisible lord of wood and field for hunting permission. Variants included: pawang roesa (deer), pawang badeuë, pawang gadjah (elephant), pawang oenöë, pawang boeja (crocodile), pawang oeteuën/rimba (forest).
Peukeunong
The èleumèë was also used in peukeunong — magic charms (e.g., a “bespoken” lemon) placed in someone’s net or fuik to disrupt it. Fear of peukeunong maintained the “mild adat” of sharing catch with bystanders (oereuëng meudarat).
The boeröng-bezwering
Èleumèë was also used in boeröng-bezwering (exorcism of the childbirth ghost). The peutrön boeröng (“bringing the boeröng downstairs”) ritual was performed by an expert who used èleumèë to drive the boeröng from a possessed kraamvrouw.
Related forms
Specialised forms of èleumèë included:
- Èleumèë djhoeng — hanging charms
- Èleumèë teumanöm — burying charms
- Èleumèë koelat — mushroom magic (only in XXII Moekim’s, notorious in Lamteuba)
- Èleumèë keubaj — invulnerability
- Èleumèë panika — cannot be hit
- Èleumèë sangkilat — iron-softening
- Èleumèë sihé — magic/sorcery (from Arabic sihir)
Sources
Merac. Oost-Indisch Journael: Palaver om de tafel met het gat. Toekan Series No. 2. Edited by G. L. Tichelman. Haarlem: De Gulden Pers, 1947. Chapter: Jagerslatijn.
See Also
- Pawang
- Panglima la’öt
- Peukeunong
- Boeröng
- Seumangat
- Èleumèë sihé
- Èleumèë koelat
- Èleumèë salé’
- Oost-Indisch Journael
- Datoek
- koekoeman
- Manté’s
Source
Atjèh. Algemeen samenvattend overzicht van land en volk van Atjèh en onderhoorigheden, door J. Kreemer, Archivaris van het Atjèh Instituut. Tweede Deel. Leiden: N.V. Boekhandel en Drukkerij voorheen E.J. Brill, 1923.
Identifier: Delpher MMKB02B:000001798; PPN 395084288. Koninklijke Bibliotheek.