Teukoe Tjhi Moeda Peusangan, called jong van Peusangan (young of Peusangan), was war leader of Peureula in the 1873-1874 period and later oeléëbalang of Peureula, father of Teukoe Tjhi Mohamad Thajeb.
Life
Son of Teukoe Tjhi Peureula, he was martial commander against Idi. Refusing to learn Koran reading (meng-adji) in youth, he had to leave land and wandered through Malaka, earning livelihood with trade. Later stayed in Peudawa Rajeu near Peureula. When Dutch came cruising along coast 1873-1874 sending negotiators ashore, the adventurous child had already returned as war chief next to his father.
Friendship with Dutch, established and maintained, often obliged him to secure land, people, property, even children against djahats from elsewhere who blamed peace with kafirs. Even before end of 19th century oil interests of kafirs made roads of friendship smooth; what now oeléëbalangs generally see, that under friendship and cooperation material interests best realize, he already saw a quarter century earlier. Petroleum cijns made old prince rich; in 1913 arrangement arose whereby cijns came into landscape treasury and oeléëbalang got fixed income.
In 1910 he sojourned on Java; administration then observed by banta, eldest of brothers/relatives. He visited son in school at Bandoeng, visited blind institute, girls school, hat plaiteries, stayed some time at Batavia where sister lived married to Atjeh head exiled to Ternate but permitted to live Batavia 1910. When in 1913 he could transfer administration to his son, he prepared pilgrimage to Mekka in 1914, nine months out and home with steamship Riouw, 20 family members and 2 servants in suite. Returned he went again to Batavia to sister, wife of exile, who in 1916 returned to Atjeh when widowed.
At time of Broersma’s visit, aged about 90 according to son, living at Boga by his sea where he himself planted coconut palms, new sturdy house with own fishponds and coconut garden, with second wife, of 16 children 12 still alive and many grandchildren. Living sign of Atjeh history, he received visitors in baleh, open reception house on yard, wearing simple clothing kopia dark blue linen jacket kaïn slippers, sitting on mat on floor while guests offered chairs, walking every morning with retinue along sea where Dutch once came who already 50 years are his “friends.” Now does meng-adji and is fully Atjeher.
See Also
Source
Atjeh als land voor handel en bedrijf, by Dr. R. Broersma, Gebrs. Cohen, Utrecht, 1925, pp. 35-38.