Folk-Tales of the Khasis, by K. U. Rafy
Title: Folk-Tales of the Khasis
Author: K. U. Rafy
Release Date: October 30, 2011 [EBook #37884] Language: English
Character set encoding: ASCII
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[Contents] [Contents]
Folk-Tales of the Khasis
[Contents]
Macmillan and Co., Limited
London Bombay Calcutta * Madras Melbourne The Macmillan Company New York * Boston Chicago Dallas San Francisco The Macmillan Co. of Canada, Ltd. Toronto [Contents] In the Neighbourhood of the Mountain of the Iei Tree. [Contents] Folk-Tales of the Khasis By Mrs. Rafy 1 Illustrated Macmillan and Co., Limited St. Martin's Street, London 1920 [Contents] Copyright [vii] [Contents] Foreword Without any apology I offer to the public this imperfect collection of the quaint and fascinating Folk-Tales of the Khasis, believing that the perusal of them cannot fail to cheer and to give pleasure to many. Of some of the stories there are several versions current in the country,--sometimes conflicting versions,--but this in no way diminishes their charm. In such cases I have selected the version which appeared to me the most unique and graceful, and seemed to throw the truest light on the habits and the character of this genial and interesting Hill race. Several of these tales have been published by me from time to time in The Statesman of Calcutta, by whose courtesy I am permitted to reproduce them in this volume. I shall consider the book amply rewarded if it bears the fruit I anticipate, by rendering more cheerful an hour or two in the life of its readers during these busy and strenuous times. K. U. R. August 10, 1918. [ix] [Contents] Contents Page 1. What makes the Eclipse 1 2. The Legend of Mount Sophet Bneng 8 3. How the Peacock got his Beautiful Feathers 10 4. The Goddess who came to live with Mankind 18 5. The Formation of the Earth 24 6. U Raitong (The Khasi Orpheus) 26 7. The Tiger and the Monkeys 37 8. The Legend of the Iei Tree 43 9. Hunting the Stag Lapalang 49 10. The Goddesses Ka Ngot and Ka Iam 52 11. U Biskurom 55 12. U Thlen 58 13. How the Dog came to live with Man 68 14. The Origin of Betel and Tobacco 75 15. The Stag and the Snail 81 16. The Leap of Ka Likai 85 17. The Shadows on the Moon 89 18. U Ksuid Tynjang 92 19. What makes the Lightning 97 20. The Prohibited Food [x] 100 21. The Cooing of the Doves 104 22. How the Colour of the Monkey became Grey 106 23. Ka Panshandi, the Lazy Tortoise 108 24. The Idiot and the Hyndet Bread 111 25. U Ramhah 116 26. How the Cat came to live with Man 120 27. How the Fox got his White Breast 123 2
28.
How the Tiger got his Strength
128
29.
How the Goat came to live with Man
131
30.
How the Ox came to be the Servant of
Man
134
31.
The Lost Book 137
32.
The Blessing of the Mendicant
140
[xi]
[Contents] Illustrations
In the Neighbourhood of the Mountain of the Iei Tree Frontispiece
Page
Khasi Peasants 3
At the Foot of Mount Shillong 19
At the Foot of the Mountain of the Iei Tree 44
A Khasi Waterfall in the Neighbourhood of the Mountain of the Iei Tree 45
The Haunt of Ka Kma Kharai 60
Sacred Grove and Monoliths 63
At the Foot of the Shillong Mountains 69
A View in the reputed Region where U Ramhah the Giant committed his Atrocities 76
The Leap of Ka Likai 86
The reputed Haunt of U Ksuid Tynjang 93
A Khasi Industry--Frying Fish in the Open Air 141
[1]
[Contents] I
What makes the Eclipse
Very early in the history of the world a beautiful female child, whom the parents called Ka Nam, was born to a humble family who lived in a village on the borders of one of the great Khasi forests. She was such a beautiful child that her mother constantly expressed her fears lest some stranger passing that way might kidnap her or cast an "evil eye" upon her, so she desired to bring her
up in as much seclusion as their poor circumstances would permit. To this the father would not agree; he told his wife not to harbour foolish notions, but to bring up the child naturally like other people's children, and teach her to work and to make herself useful. So Ka Nam was brought up like other children, and taught to work and to make herself useful.
One day, as she was taking her pitcher to the well, a big tiger came out of the forest and carried her to his lair. She was terrified almost to death, for she knew that the tigers were the most cruel of all beasts. The name of this tiger was U Khla, and his purpose
in carrying off the maiden was to eat her, but when he saw how young and small she was, and that she would not suffice for one full meal for him, he decided to keep her in his lair until she grew bigger. [2]
He took great care of her and brought home to her many delicacies which her parents had never been able to afford, and as she never suspected the cruel designs of the tiger, she soon grew to feel quite at home and contented in the wild beast's den, and she grew up to be a maiden of unparalleled loveliness.
The tiger was only waiting his opportunity, and when he saw that she had grown up he determined to kill her, for he was longing to eat the beautiful damsel whom he had fed with such care. One day, as he busied himself about his lair, he began to mutter to himself: "Now the time has come when I can repay myself for all my trouble in feeding this human child; to-morrow I will invite all my
fellow-tigers here and we will feast upon the maiden."
It happened that a little mouse was foraging near the den at that time and she overheard the tiger muttering to himself. She was very sorry for the maiden, for she knew that she was alone and friendless and entirely at the mercy of the tiger; so the little mouse went and told the maiden that the tigers were going to kill her and eat her on the following day. Ka Nam was in great distress and wept very bitterly. She begged of the mouse to help her to escape, and the mouse, having a tender heart, gave her what aid was in her power.
Khasi Peasants.
3
In the first place she told the maiden to go out of the den and to seek the cave of the magician, U Hynroh, the Giant Toad, to
whom the realm was under tribute. He was a peevish and exacting monster from whom every one recoiled, and Ka Nam would have been terrified to approach him under ordinary conditions, but the peril which faced her gave her courage, and under the guidance of the mouse she went to the toad's cave. [4]When he saw her and beheld how fair she was, and learned how she had been the captive
of his old rival the tiger, he readily consented to give her his protection; so he clothed her in a toadskin, warning her not to divest herself of it in the presence of others on pain of death. This he did in order to keep the maiden in his own custody and to make her his slave.
When the mouse saw that her beautiful friend had been transformed into the likeness of a hideous toad she was very sorrowful, and regretted having sent her to seek the protection of U Hynroh, for she knew that as long as she remained in