The History of Meulaboh in the Aceh History Record; Kito Berlaboh Displays

mentioned Meulaboh formerly known as Sand Karam. The naming then changed when the nomads from Minangkabau arrived in the area.

H.M Zainuddin in his book Tarich Aceh wrote a brief history of the origin of the word Meulaboh. In the book, HM Zainuddin mentulates the naming of Meulaboh conducted during the Padri war period in West Sumatra between 1823-1837. It was mentioned Minangkabau nomads who escaped from the Padri war sailed to Aceh. Arriving at the Gulf of Sand Karam they then agreed to sell their anchors in a good place.

One of the heads of the group then headed to one of the beaches in the Gulf of Sand Karam. "Kito cursed," he said. Since then, the place where the nomads of Minangkabau nomads have come to be named after Meulaboh.

Of the many people who came to Aceh in the group, there were only a few people recorded in the history books. Among them are the head of the entourage like Datuk Machdum Sakti from Rawa, Datok Radja Agam from Luhak Agam and Datok Radja Alam Song Song Buluh from Sumpu.

The three heads of this group then open the land and create a new country in Sand Karam region. They cleared the forest and opened the fields in the territory of the Kingdom of Aceh Darussalam. Still according to H.M. Zainuddin, the three heads of this group chose to open the land and create a new center of government in different areas. Datok Machdum Sakti chose Merbau area, Datok Radja Agam in Ranto Panjang, and Datok Radja Alam Song Song Buluh in Ujungkala.

Datok Radja Alam then also married the son of an influential figure in Ujungkala.

The business of the third field of Minangkabau origin is increasingly crowded. Merbau, Ranto Panjang and Ujungkala then turned into a prosperous country. This area is also increasingly known in the west coast of Aceh at that time. Realizing this, the three figures from Minangkabau then agreed to face the Sultan of Aceh Mahmud Syah or known Sultan Buyung (1830-1839). All three also agreed to bring each one a bottle of masai as a souvenir for the Sultan of Aceh.

After meeting the Sultan of Aceh, the three men then asked for permission to the sultan to give borders to the new area on the west coast. Sultan Buyung fulfilled this request and raised the father-in-law of Datok Radja Alam Song Song Buluh into a Meulaboh uleebalang. The determination of Uleebalang Meulaboh must be based on the sultan's decision. They are also required to deliver tribute annually to the Royal Treasurer of Aceh Darussalam. This order is accepted by all three Datok.

On the development of the Meulaboh area, the three Datok are then tired of going back to Bandar Aceh just to take care of the small things. They also began to object to each year bringing direct tribute to the Sultan of Aceh. At that time, the Sultan of Aceh had been held by Sultan Ali Iskandar Syah (1829-1841).

The third Datok then asked the Sultan Ali Iskandar Shah to establish a representative of the Sultan in the Meulaboh area. The third request of Datok was granted by the Sultan of Aceh who later sent Teuku Tjhik Purba Lela. At that time Teuku Tjhik Purba Lela served as Wazir Sultan of Aceh for the government and received tributes from Uleebalang Meulaboh.

The existence of Teuku Tjhik Purba Lela as the representative of the Sultan of Aceh in Meulaboh received good response from the three Datok. However, they still complain of some violations in law and custom which require special handling by special officials in the field. They then again appealed to the Sultan to be sent again a representative who handles a special field about customs and law. At that time, the Kingdom of Aceh Darussalam had been governed by Sultan Mansyur Syah.

Sultan Mansyur Syah granted the request of the Datok. The sultan then sent Penghulu Sidik Lila Digahara to Meulaboh as the royal vizier. The Datok then again asked a representative of the Sultan of Aceh who is able to take care of religious matters including marriage, pasah and so forth.

The request was again granted by the Sultan of Aceh. He then sent Teuku Tjut Din, a cleric entitled 'Almuktasimu-binlah' to kadhi Sulthan Aceh in Meulaboh.

Meulaboh then developed rapidly under the reign of Sultan Ibrahim Mansyur Syah (1841-1870). Moreover, at that time many migrants from West Sumatra exodus to Meulaboh and Tapaktuan. They then opened the garden and planted pepper in this area. As a result pepper production on the west coast of Aceh became abundant and audible to foreign traders, including Britain. Pepper which became the prima donna of world trade at that time was very hunted by European nations.

In its heyday, heads of state in Meulaboh then drafted a state system in the form of an uleebalang federation called Kawai XVI. The Federation is chaired by Uleebalang Kedjruen Tjiek Ujong Kala. Kawai XVI consists of Meulaboh / Tandjung, Udjung Kala, Seunagan, Teuripa, Woyla, Peureumbeue, Mount Meuëh, Kuala Meureubok, and Ranto Pandjang.

In addition, other areas that joined in Kawai XVI is Reudeueb, Lango Tangkadeuön, Keuntjo, Gumé / Mugo, Meuko, Tadu, and Seuneu 'Am.

At that time another federation was formed on the border of Meulaboh with Pedir other than Kaway XVI Federation. This Federation is called Kaway XII which consists of 2 uleebalangs namely Pameuë, Ara, Lang Jene, Reungeuët, Geupho, Reuhat, Tungkup / Dulok, Tanoh Merah / Tutut, Geumpang, Tangse, Beunga, and Keumala. The Kaway XII Federation is chaired by a Kedjruën whose position is at Geumpang