Peukan Atjeh — also written Peukan Atjèh — is a settlement in [[Groot-Atjeh|Groot-Atjèh], in the immediate vicinity of [[Kota Radja|Koeta Radja], that was, in July 1891, the place of residence of [[C. Snouck Hurgronje|Dr. C. Snouck Hurgronje] during his seven-month Atjèh residence of July 1891–February 1892. The dwelling at Peukan Atjeh — hired from an Arab by the governor [[Pompe van Meerdervoort|Pompe van Meerdervoort], at some distance from the European society, exactly as Snouck Hurgronje had wished — was the physical base from which Snouck Hurgronje conducted the investigation that would produce the Verslag of 23 May 23 May 1892.
The Hiring of the Dwelling
When the colonel Pompe van Meerdervoort was on the point of departing to Atjèh, the heer Snouck Hurgronje visited him at [[Batavia|Batavia]. Pompe was that day just with the governor-general; yet he proved entirely ignorant of the Atjèh-journey that had been imposed on Snouck Hurgronje, and he looked rather taken aback; and his chagrin grew, which that day had already been awakened by the evident absence of Atjèh-interest there, where one might have expected it. Himself he had gone to [[Buitenzorg|Buitenzorg] with a complete Atjèh-political program, but the governor-general had not wanted to take note of it: only that he should continue the work of his predecessor, and in his spirit, was desired.
The colonel Pompe looked sombre. “If you would rather not see me come to Atjèh, then say that to the government.” But no, that was not it, on the contrary! Pompe would do everything to promote the success of the investigation. Could he do something for him? The heer Snouck Hurgronje said not to be troublesome; he preferred to go his own way, but help with hiring a dwelling he would gladly accept.
And so colonel Pompe, who departed to Atjèh one week earlier, hired a dwelling of an Arab at Peukan Atjeh, where Abd al-Gaffār could be housed, at some distance from the European society, exactly as that had been ordered.
The Seven Months at Peukan Atjeh
Medio July 1891 Snouck Hurgronje arrived at Atjèh, and he stayed there seven months, till February 1892, and so survived there the governor [[Pompe van Meerdervoort|Pompe van Meerdervoort]. Snouck Hurgronje saw still the successor Deijkerhoff enter the governor’s house on 31 January 31 January 1892. A small month later he could declare his investigation ended and return to Java.
During those seven months at Peukan Atjeh, treasures were gathered on linguistic and ethnological ground, richer and fairer than ever yet won, anywhere in Indië; and also in religious and political respect the understanding of the Atjèher was completely achieved. The patient was examined, the clinical picture drawn, the diagnosis made, and the doctor ventured even to indicate the cure. The result would be the Verslag of 23 May 23 May 1892.
Significance
Peukan Atjeh is, for Atjèhse history, the place of residence of Snouck Hurgronje during his seven-month Atjèh residence of July 1891–February 1892 — the residence that produced the Verslag of 23 May 23 May 1892. The dwelling at Peukan Atjeh — hired from an Arab by the governor Pompe van Meerdervoort, at some distance from the European society, exactly as Snouck Hurgronje had wished — was the physical base from which Snouck Hurgronje conducted the investigation that would produce the foundational document of the modern Dutch understanding of the Atjèh-oorlog.
See Also
- C. Snouck Hurgronje
- Snouck Hurgronje’s Atjeh mission (July 1891 – February 1892)
- Verslag omtrent de religieus-politieke toestanden in Atjeh
- Pompe van Meerdervoort
- Deijkerhoff
- Groot-Atjeh
- Kota Radja
- Batavia
- Buitenzorg
- Aceh War
- Atjeh-oorlog
- 31 January
- July 1891
- February 1892
- 1891
- 1892
Source
Drie Atjeh-mannen: Snouck Hurgronje — Van Heutsz — Van Daalen, door H. T. Damsté (September 1936). OCR-filename: 20260718_105749_DLP-111-Drie_Atjeh_mannen_Nemotron-OCR-v2_OCR.txt, pp. 16–17.