Teukoe Moeda Oesoeh was oeléëbalang of Simpang Olim, a landscape created about a century before 1923 through Atjeh pepper settlement that brought wasteland coastal area into cultivation.
Character and knowledge
Broersma described him as jovial boss about 60 years with a bit Chinese type. He knew area from childhood, loved it, was trader in his land and fatherly predecessor. When not traveling through landscape, found either in quiet truly Atjeh house or not far near meuseugit, where also market, keude, was.
He enjoyed observing wishes and opinions of much younger wife while pushing will, liked coziness, consultation, giving and taking. Not so foolish not to see advantage presence Netherlands administration; it shone through in stories.
When asked pepper value, remembered koyang (=222 picol) at wase increased 10% for other rights yielded 40 rijksdaalders. By rijksdaalders meant Mexican dollars, thus amount 56 gulden: per picol about f 2.50. Pepper transported with Atjeh prauws to Penang. When Netherlands authority came, Dutch ships came coast and since negotiable price rose because no longer dependent Penang as market.
Historical memory
Son of former radja, it cost him effort to ensure he and not other who less right became oeléëbalang. H. T. Damsté wrote about it in essay “Een stukje Atjeh-geschiedenis” (Koloniaal Tijdschrift 1918).
In such volkshoofden lies material with which good measures Dutch administration become blessing for Atjeh people.
See Also
Source
Atjeh als land voor handel en bedrijf, by Dr. R. Broersma, Gebrs. Cohen, Utrecht, 1925, pp. 44-46.