Neilal le Ṭuoni

The Sawrtui river was flowing slowly and smoothly with dazzling silvery moonlight in it. Willows and reeds on its bank were also tossing in the gentle night breeze. At that moment three friends - Neilal, the young raja of Sawrtuirakam, Sawrkung, bosom friend of Neilal and Tuozo, one of the most beautiful girls of Sawrtuirakam were descending with bamboo torches in their hands to collect water snails in the river. As they reached the river, Neilal was singing nonchalantly;

Blame me not, friends,
Remain I still unmarried
I know not what-
My mummy has in mind. 

Tuozo burst into a great laughter. Soon they started looking for water-snails. Whenever Tuozo came across oyster, she gave it to Neilal, saying, "My mummy told me that women must never eat an oyster." Meanwhile, Sawrkung was moving about his hand under water on the pretext of catching a snail near the foot of Tuozo and caused to pass his hand on Tuozo's thigh. Moving away, Tuozo said, "Oh! Sawrkung is trying to rob me of my chastity." After sometime they packed up their bags and went home.

As time passed by, each and every household of Sawrtui was ready for Sikpui* dance and the rice-beer (Zu) of each household had also become matured and sweet. As a prelude to dance, the young lads were singing the song of Buontlaw;**

The famous hero who had heads
From east and west;
Also took ten heads from south.
The famous thiek village remained unchallengeable; 

Never will it be destroyed. The villagers were then starting the Sikpui dance with the Khuongpu (drummer) and Khuongpuzailak (chanter) sitting in a middle on a flat stone especially erected for the occasion and the dancers making two rows old men against old women, married men against married women, young men against young women, small boys and small girls and then children in the last. Neilal and Touzo were facing each other and the song of Sikpui dance was started thus;

While we are preparing for the Sikpui feast,
The big red sea becomes divided.
As we are marching forward fighting our foes,
We are being led by a cloud during day;
And by pillar of fire during night.
Our enemies, Ye folk, are thick with fury,
Come out with your shields and spears.
Fighting our foes all day,
We march along as cloud fire goes afore.
The enemies we fight all day,
The big sea shallowed them like beast.
Collect the quails,
And fetch the water that springs out of the rock. 

After having celebrated the Sikpui festival for seven days happily, they arranged a big community feast on the eighth day. After the feast, they parted one another with tears in their eyes. Neilal and Sawrkung were very close friends, sharing sorrow and joy together. Sawrkung was infatuated by the beauty of Tuozo. One night Neilal and Sawrkung went to the house of Tuozo. In her heart of hearts, Tuozo preferred Neilal to Sawrkung. But Neilal tried his best to win over Tuozo for Sawrkung. Tuozo felt so disappointed. Neilal was one of the Rengtes (Rajas) under the overall suzerainty of Rengpui (Maharaja), Chawnhmang. Tuozo really loved Neilat but at the same time, she also thought that she would not be able to win the heart to Neilal for the latter really wanted her for his friend, Sawrkung.

After the celebration of Sikpui festival. Tuozo felt indisposed and was confined to bed for several days. Sawrkung whispered to Neilal, saying, "Tuozo has been at home these days alone because of her illness. It is the most opportune moment if you want to speak to her for me." Accordingly, Neilal went to the house of Tuozo. Sawrkung also followed him but hid himself along the outside upper wall of Tuozo's house to peep through the hole of the matted bamboo wall. As Neilal entered the house, Tuozo was so taken aback and got she up all of a sudden to give Neilal a wooden seat. Because of her prolonged illness, Tuozo felt very weak and was falling on Neilal's arms. Neilal helped her walk slowly and brought her on the bed. Sawrkung was watching all these scenes but as some people were passing by the house, he thought it quite unbecoming to remain there and went away offendedly. He thought to himself, "I thought, Neilal must have been speaking to her for me, but he might have been doing all this for himself."

Till the seventh year of his migration at Dapram (Tripura), Rengpui Chawnhmang still deputed the Vais (plainsmen) of his subjects to collect tributes from Sawrtui and other surrounding villages. Unwilling to pay tributes any-more, the women folk were shouting:

Vais are coming, Vais are coming,
Vais, the servants of Rengpui, are coming;
Their language is not pleasing to hear,
Let us strike them like a cloth. 

Shouting like this, they hit at the Vais with their tliem* and the latter disappeared without collecting any tributes. Annoyed by the violent actions of the womenfolk, Rengpui Chawnhmang had employed the Takam Vais** to invade the recalcitrant villages. The invaders ruthlessly cut down the standing crops in the jhums and killed any persons they could lay their hands upon.

The most beautiful princess during those days was Tuonpui at the Khawkhawm village. Having heard that Sawrtui village was a bit secure and safe from the invading Vais, Tuoni and her parents were crossing Tuiphal river on their way to Sawrtui where they wanted to stay for sometime. As the river was slightly deep, Tuoni and her mother were lifting their petticoats almost upto their waist. Meanwhile, Neilal and Sawrkung were also fishing in the same river. Seeing the strangers crossing the river, Sawrkung was dumbstruck by the beauty of the girl and whispered his friend, "Look, the moon is rising up there!" Neilal looked up and exclaimed, "Oh! she is really a bright moon in day time." He could not believe his eyes and it was a love at first sight. After a brief introduction and exchange of pleasantries, they all sat down on the bank of the river and talked about the invasion of their land by the Takam Vais. After sometime, Neilal and Sawrkung left for home before them. Neilal wanted the Tuoni and her parents must put up in no other house than his. He then told Sawrkung that every house of the village must put fresh bunch of leaves on its door.*

* According to Hmar tradition, putting fresh bunch of leaves on the door means that no stranger or even relatives from outside can enter the house because the house-owners observe some sacrificial rites. 

Tuonpui did not know that Neilal was the Rengte of Sawrtui village. After meeting him at the river, she also felt that something unusual had pulled her soul towards him and thought to herself if, by chance, they could put up in his house. As they reached the village, they frantically looked for house to put up in, for every house, except Rengte's house, placed bunch of leaves on its door. They hesitated to enter Rengte's house and ultimately put up at the blacksmiths' hut. As night came, Neilal and Sawrkung went to pay a visit to Tuoni. Seeing them coming towards her, Tuoni was singing:

Came the warriors from the west
Like a torrent water,
Threatening the Khawkhum village,
And causing heartbreak.
Came flying the hornbill from Khawkhum,
Following the Phaltui
And settled now she at Sawrtui.
Me! Tuonpui, no place to put my load,
At the smithy but put I my load.
Neilal replied Tuoni's song and sang thus:
Came flying the hornbill from Khawkhum,
Following the Phaltui river;
Like the bright rising moon.
Not allowing her to stay in other house,
Ordered I all houses to place leaves on doors,
Settled she now at the smithy hut. 

Not satisfied with what he had just chanted, Neilal apologically told Tuoni that he ordered all houses in the village to place bunch of leaves on their doors so that Tuoni and her parents would stay in his house.

The chief of Khawkhum was known for his wealth. Therefore, Tuoni put on different kinds of golden bracelets, necklaces and bangles. Being a stranger in Sawrtui village, she thought it improper to put on such costly ornaments. When she took them off, there were marks of white swelling spots on her wrists and neck.

One night Neilal courted Tuoni alone and had been with her till midnight. He told her that he wanted to marry her very much. To this Tuoni politely replied, "U Lal, let it not be finalised before hearing your parents' opinion first. If they like me, I am always ready." "If you insist on it, I shall do so tomorrow morning," replied Neilal. Pondering on how he was to initiate the matter to his parents, he became restless and could not sleep that night.

As soon as his mother got up, Neilal also came down from his bed. His heart beat faster. At last, he told his mother that he wanted to marry Tuoni. At that moment, Tuoni happened to pass by the house of Neilal on her way to the village pond. Overhearing her name being mentioned, she paused for a moment and listened to what they were talking about. Neilal's mother say, "Yes, Tuoni is indeed beautiful! But what about these white spots on her wrists and neck? Who knows, she may have been infected with leprosy!" His father also intervened and added, "Those white swelling spots around her neck and wrists could possibly be leprous! My son, do not share any comb with her." When Tuoni overheard all this, she was indeed disturbed and annoyed. Neilal's mother further proposed that her son should marry his own village girls. Broken-hearted Neilal murmured, "If I cannot marry Tuoni, I shall not marry at all." So saying, he went back to his bed with a heavy heart.

As usual Neilal went again to court Tuoni at night. Seeing Neilal coming, Tuoni was singing:

Go I there to fetch water
At Sawrtui's pond;
Lean I against the wall
To listen to the conversation
Of Neilal's parents.
My neck where I wear my necklaces,
My wrists where I wear my bangles
Are as white as cotton.
It is not a leprous,
Nor do I belong to spirit-possessed clan
Am I not a princess? 

Tuoni's father took it as a great humiliation and asked tauntingly, "Baby, they said that you were infected with leprosy." Tuoni replied: "Neilal's parents said: 'That I am a leprous", I suffer not from leprosy, They are the marks of my bead Necklaces and bangles."

The following day Neilal went out for hunting before dawn. Tuoni put on her Zakuolaisen* and puonlaisen** with her golden necklaces and bangles. She went to the house of Neilal to return suthlam.*** Neilal's parents were really charmed by Tuoni's beauty and manners. Neilal's mother asked, "Have you made full use of it ? Why do you return it so soon?" Tuoni replied by singing :

Go back I must to my father's village,
The village called Khawkhum ;
Go back I must to Khawkhum.
The seat of mighty rule,
Where the messenger made proclamations
With shield in hand. 

Neilal's mother followed her to the smithy hut, earnestly requesting Tuoni's parents to stay back at least for some days more. She felt sorry that Tuoni should leave for her village on the very day when her son was away for hunting. But Tuoni did not feel free to ask the whereabout of Neilal. Despite Neilal's mother's repeated requests, set Tuoni's parents out for their journey back to their village. Tuoni thought that when Neilal came to know of their departure, he would surely run after them. So on the pretext of having a stomach pain, she walked at snail's space far behind her parents.

Meanwhile, Neilal also returned with a deer on his back, thinking all the time how he should celebrate it with Tuoni and his friends. But alas ! Tuoni was  no more ! Neilal's mother could read the mind of her son and said, "Baby, your hornbill has flown away. If you really love her, run after her !" Putting off his bag and gun on the floor, he ran out without even caring to eat his food.

Tuoni and her parents went on slowly. When they reached a place called Khumzawl, Tuoni abruptly put down her basket and rolled on the ground yelling," It is so painful, so painful indeed." They had to take rest there till the sun was nearing the western horizon.

Neilal kept on running after them in full speed. When he reached Tuiphal river, he was completely exhausted. His mouth got dried. His legs could no  longer carry him further and he collapsed on the ground, muttering, "Tuo  Tuonpui !" When he regained his consciousness, he gobbled water. He curled his lips. He mustered once again all his strength and resumed his journey. After sometime, Tuoni's mother saw Neilal running towards them from a distance and shouted, "There, Neilal is coming !" In a twinkling of an eye, Tuoni got up and was standing to embrace Neilal. Fatigued, tired and profusely sweated, Neilal fell flat at the foot of Tuoni.

When Neilal came to his senses, Tuoni's father apologically asked, "Have we committed any serious offence to you ? Why are you running after us ?" "No, never, daddy ! When I returned from hunting, my mummy said, 'Your hornbill has flown away. If you really love her, go fly' ! So I am here now. I pray you with all my heart to permit me to go back with Tuonpui !" Turning towards his wife, Tuoni's father said, "Despite his status as Rengte, he came running after us. Shall we allow him to take her back ?" Tuoni's mother also tended to agree to her husband's proposal, not out of favour, but out of respect for Neilal. But she could not forget all those humiliating remarks on her daughter. Tuoni could read the mind of her parents. Nor did she dare to take decision by herself. After sometime, she whispered her small sister, "Baby, let me go back to Sawrtui village." The small girl did not approve of her older sister's request. But Neilal was determined to follow them.

The sun was about to set. They decided to spend the night at Khumzawl. Tuoni rested Neilal's head on her lap and caressed him till midnight. Human weakness got the better of them and on that crucial night, the two lovers lost their chastity. As dawn came, Tuoni sang this song to Neilal :

The richness of your birth is unfathomable
As the deep sea ;
Whereas my birthplace is as shallow
As the outerland. 

The sun was up in the eastern horizon. They set out on their onward journey again. Neilal was still following them. As they reached a certain place called Vaibekawn (the valley of Vaibe*), they decided to have their morning meal. After meal, Tuoni sat near Neilal who was lying on a flat smooth rock and lifted up Neilal's head and put it on her lap. Then she sang a very heart reaking and soothing song, so as to make Neilal sleepy. Neilal was yawning dreamily and soon went into a deep sleep. Afraid of offending her parents, Tuoni slowly lifted up Neilal's head, pulled her legs out and put a dark-blue shawl under Neilal's head. With tears rolling down her cheeks, she picked up her basket and followed her parents, leaving behind Neilal still sleeping in the valley. When Neilal was awake, he found nobody except the dark-blue shawl under his head. At the top of voice, he cried, "Oh, Tuonpui...." There was pindrop silence every-where. Even the birds of the deep valley perhaps shared Neilal's mental agony and sorrow ! He ran to and fro, knowing not where to go. At last, he saw their footprints and ran after them again with all his strength. He reached a place where there were two by-paths, one going along the Changpui river and the other going up the steep hill-lock which is a shorter route. Assuming that Tuoni's family might have taken the longer route, Neilal went on the shorter route.

Tuoni's parents were indeed happy because Tuoni could leave Neilal behind. But Tuoni's mind was full of remorse and sense of guilt. Tuoni's mother went ahead with the small girl on her back. Tuoni's father followed her and Tuoni was behind them. After sometime, they came to the Changpui river and walked into the river and Tuoni lifted her petticoat almost upto her waist. As she was standing right in the middle of the river, one black object was floating down and wound round her thigh. When she looked at the black object intensely, it happened to be the same shawl which she put under Neilal's head. Unable to control her feelings, she then wept bitterly thinking that Neilal must have been killed by enemies. As soon as they crossed the river, Tuoni abruptly put down her basket and squeezed the shawl and used it for wiping her tears and for covering her head, still sobbing bitterly. Her mother tried to comfort her but of no avail. She then uncontrollably cried out, "U Lal, you have run after us against many heavy odds ! I left you while you are still asleep secretly. Now you have fallen into the cruel hands of your enemies ! Oh ! How I wish I meet you at least in paradise !"

As they resumed their journey up the hill-lock, Tuoni walked behind them, stooping down her head. At the path on the spur of the hill, Neilal was relaxing. Tuoni's father saw him from a distance, saying, "There, he is sitting ! What to talk of his death !" As Tuoni noticed him, she virtually flew and fell into the arms of Neilal. The two lovers embraced each other rolling on the ground, letting their lips to express their unfathomable love. Feeling awkward, Tuoni's parents turned them their backs. Neilal lifted Tuoni's head and put it on his lap, wiping her tears with the dark-blue shawl. After sometime they continued their journey up and at last reached the village of Tuoni.

Neilal spent the night at the house of Tuoni. The next morning as they were having meal together, Neilal again requested Tuoni's parents that he and Tuoni be permitted to go back to Sawrtui village. Before her parents spoke, Tuoni immediately intervened and said, "U Lal, let me not come now, I pray. I shall weave more clothes. I shall also meet my friends.

whom I have not been seeing for such a long time. They will blame me if I leave them so soon again. Please do come again when the Dipui* is in full bloom." So saying, Tuoni also solemnly promised that she would not comb her hair from that day onward. Neilal also thought it reasonable and left for Sawrtui village alone.

Days and months passed by. No young men in the Khawkhum village wooed Tuoni for she stopped oiling and combing her hair. Tuoni used to go to a nearby meadow almost every day to see whether the Dipui plant was flowering.

One day, Tuoni's father arranged sacrificial feast by killing two full-grown mithuns. It was a very happy occasion. Every one, particularly young men and young women of the village, enjoyed the feast. Half-drunk, Hrilchung, who was the talk of the village for his strength and who also coveted the hand of Tuoni for marriage, went to Tuoni, saying disdain-fully:" The Dipui flower has already faded. What a pity ! You have stopped oiling and combing your hair! You are too good to be let down like this !" Tuoni was really shocked. She thought to herself that Neilal must have forgotten her. Just to see whether Hrilchung's remark was correct Tuoni went to the nearby meadow. To her utter surprise, she saw the thatch plants (very similar to sungrass), were already flowered and fading. Her sorrows knew no bounds. She cursed herself and wept bitterly.

At Sawrtui village, Neilal also passed his days all the time thinking about Tuoni. Even if the young men of his village asked him to join Lawmpui*, he declined. Whenever he and Sawrkung were away, the subject-matter of their tete-a-tete was all the time Tuoni. Every day, he went to see Dipui whether it put forth a flower. As time passed by, they finished weeding jhums and the real Dipui also put forth flowers. Neilal set out on his journey to Khawkhum to take Tuoni as his bride. As he was nearing the village he washed his face at the village pond and then entered the village. Neilal was well-known for his handsomeness even outside his chiefdom. It was said that before Neilal reached the chief's (Tuoni's father's) house, all the young women of the village were already lined up just to have a look at Neilal. As Tuoni had started oiling and combing her hair again, their house was packed with many hopeful suitors. When Rengte Neilal entered the house, nobody dared to make any noise for every one respected him very much. Sitting near the wall above the hearth, Neilal asked, "Where goes Tuoni ?" Tuoni's father replied, "To fetch water !" Neilal then said, "Let nobody unload her when she comes."

In the meantime, Tuoni had arrived carrying seven bamboo tubes filled with water in her basket. Standing at the door, she shouted, "Come and unload me." There was no response. At this, Tuoni was so angry that she burst out, saying, "Why are you so proud ? Do you consider yourselves as Sawrtui-rakam Neilal ? Jumping out of the hearth, Neilal said, "I, Sawrtuirakam Neilal, am here ...." So saying, he unloaded all the bamboo tubes at a time along with her basket. Tuoni felt so ashamed that she immediately untied the knots of her hair and went straight to one corner of the house. After a long pause, she asked with a trembling voice, "U Lal, Wh When did you arrive?" Neilal replied, "Just a while ago." All the young men stealthily went out of Tuoni's house one by one.

"You have promised me that when the Dipui plant is in full bloom, you would come and take me as your bride. See all the flowers of Dipui plant have already faded r Retorted Tuoni with tears in her eyes. "No, Tuonpui ! Don't you see that the real Dipui plant is yet to bloom ! How do you say that it has already faded away ? Go and see yourself the real Dipui plants at the valley of Changpui !" replied Neilal. At this Tuoni's mother interrupted and said, "Children ! your marriage proposal is not what our forefathers called Pathien sam suih* !" Realising that Tuoni's mother's word was a final verdict, Neilal then rose and left Khawkhum with a heavy heart and Tuoni, standing on their open porch with tears rolling down her cheeks, was looking on till she could not see Neilal's headgear amidst valleys and hills.
----------------------------------------------

*Sikpui dance is one of the oldest dances of Hmars. Sikpui has two meanings : First; it means community sharing of rice-beer and meat collected from each household; Secondly, Sikpui also means winter and since this festival falls in winter, it is also called winter festival. 
**Buontlaw: It is a folk song sung by young children as a prelude to Sikpui dance.
* Tliem is a flat polished bar which is used in a loom for running home the threads of the woof after each passage of the shuttle. 
** Takam Vais means the Chakmas. 
* Zakuolaisen is a white blouse with broad red bands on the arms, back and front, worn by young women on important occasion. 
** Puonlaisen is a white shawl with red decorative strips in the middle. 
*** Suthlam is a cotton winding instrument. It is a revolving contrivance for holding a skein of cotton while it is being wound into a ball.
* Vaibe is the name of a flowering tree. Its 'botanical name is Bauhinia Varleorata. It usually flowers in the month of February and March of the year. 
*Dipui is something like a sungrass. Its botaincal name is Imperata arundinacca. 
* Lawmpui is something like a corporate work in which young men and young women help one another in weeding jhum rotationally in exchange for similar assistance received or to be received. 
* Pathien sam suih literally means tying of two lovers' hair together by God. It is believed that if any proposed marriage of lovers is not sanctioned or ordained by God, their hair cannot be tied together. 

Source: Prof.(Dr.) Lal Dena, Hmar Folk Tales, Scholar Publishing House, New Delhi, 1995.

Vanchunglaizuor

Once upon a time, there lived the most beautiful in the eastern land. Her name was Vanchunglaizuor. At the same time there was also a very handsome young man called Tlumte. He lived in the western land.

Tlumte and a group of young men used to visit her. They had to go through many villages on the way. The other young men were very conscious of Tlumte’s good look, and made him walk in the last. As they were passing through the villages, the villagers crowded around them. “We’re visiting Vanchunglaizuor and who is the most handsome one among us,” they asked. “The one who is in the last,” said the villagers pointing at Tlumte who was in the last. They walked on and passed another village. The other young men put flowers on their ears. But Tlumte put a bud on his ears. “Of the youngmen among us visiting Vanchunglaizuor, who is the most handsome one?” they asked the onlookers. “The one who put the bud on his ears,” they all said in unison pointing at Tlumte. They were now convinced that Tlumte was no match for them. They therefore asked him not to accompany them. Despite the fact that his friends did not like him to go along with them, Tlumte still walked behind them. The other youngmen reached the village earlier and visited the girl. Sometime later Tlumte also arrived. He could not get proper seat in the house and simply sat near the doorstep where bamboo-tubes containing water were kept. When Vanchunglaizuor saw Tlumte, she loved him at first sight. But she did not show any sign of her love to him openly and greeted all her suitors equally well.

They used to visit her many times from distant village because each one felt that he was the best and most prospective suitor. One night, as they were sitting in her house and helping her weaved and spinned threads, one of them advanced a proposal, saying, “It’s not good that all of us are hopeful. She cannot marry us all. Therefore, let her choose only one amont us and the rest shall go home.” They all agreed and asked her to choose her suitor. They asked her to light their smoking pipe from the hearth one by one. So they all gave her their pipes. One by one she lighted the pipes with live fire-wood and gave them back. But on the pipe of Tlumte she pot amber carefully and gave him back. From that moment, they all knew that Tlumte was the choice. So they all left him behind. Tlumte stayed back for some time and their love increased every day. He informed the parents of Vanchunglaizuor about his desire to marry their daughter. The parents agreed with certain conditions. She was the only maiden in the family. She carried water and fire-wood everyday. If she was not there, there would not be anyone to take her place. Domestic affairs should be completely in a mess. So they insisted that firewood which would last their life time should be piled up in front of their house. They also insisted that Tlumte should make a neverdrying fountain by the side of their house. Tlumte was very sad because he did not know what to do. For it was impossible to fulfil their demands. He sat down and started to cry. A group of monkeys saw him and asked, “Tlumte, why are you crying? Tlumte told them of his problems. The monkeys said that they would help him. Tlumte made friendship with monkeys. Hundreds of monkeys came to his help and brought dry wood from forest and stocked them in heaps. Soon there was enough firewood to last the parents’ lifetime. The parents of Vanchunglaizuor were indeed satisfied. But Tlumte’s next problem was the fountain. He thought of a plan and started digging up a well and filled it with water, but the next day it dried up. He tried and tried but could not succeed. One evening, he was sitting near the river. He thought of his Vanchunglaizuor and of his problems and was very sad. A group of crabs in the river came and comforted him saying, “Don’t worry, we shall do the job. You dig a well and put many stones in it. There we shall take shelter and produce water.” He was really happy.

He dug a good well by the side of the house and put stones in it. At night crabs came in a body and took shelter. Throughout the night they produced their saliva and in the morning water sprang out of the well. The parents of Vanchunglaizuor were satisfied.

At home the rejected suitors spread the news like wild fire that Tlumte would bring Vanchunglaizuor, the paramour of eastern beauty. The whole village was excited and was fully prepared to receive and welcome the most beautiful bride at the outskirt of the village. At the same time, Tlumte took his new bride and set out for home. They covered a very long distance. As they were passing through a thick jungle with a small pond nearby, Vanchunglaizuor said, “O! I have forgotten my comb. I could not do without it. Let me go back.” “No, you can’t your parents may hold you back. I will go instead”, said he. But he felt that to leave a girl alone in the thick jungle was not safe. So he constructed a resting place on the tree just above the pond, and instructed her not to climb down under any circumstances. Tlumte went back running. After sometime, a vampire came and looked herself in the water. She saw the image of Vanchunglaizuor with many necklaces and bracelets on her neck and wrists into the water. “My real neck does not have necklaces, my real wrist does not have bracelets, but my image has so many necklaces and bracelets,” so saying she patted her buttock and at the same time was hopping in wild excitement. At first, Vanchunglaizuor laughed in her sleeve, but as the vampire repeated her acts in a more excited manner, she could not restraint herself and burst into laughter.

The vampire at once looked upward and saw the beautiful girl on the tree. “Tell me how to climb,” she demanded. Vanchunglaizuor was in the grip of fear and was trembling. After repeated demands, Vanchunglaizuor said to the vampire, “Turn your head upside down, and you will climb it?” The vampire tried but nearly broke her neck. She grew more angry and said, “If you don’t tell me the truth, I will come and eat you up.” Vanchunglaizuor was more afraid and told her how to climb up. So she climbed up and saw the tender flesh and skin of the girl. Her mouth was watering. “You look for lice on my head,” ordered the vampire. Vanchunglaizuor had to oblige and when she looked at the vampire’s hair it was full of hairy catterpillars and her hair stood on end in fear. She dared not touch them with her finger. However, she could convince her that she had killed many of her lice. “Now, it’s my turn”, said the vampire, laying her ugly and rough hands on the Vanchunglaizuor’s head. As she parted the hair in search of lice, she saw the white, soft and tender skin and her mouth was watering. With her sharp nails she cut the skin and blood oozed out. Vanchunglaizuor cried in pain but “I’m catching the lice with my nails”, said the vampire. As she kept on sucking her blood, Vanchunglaizuor was crying in great pain. Still the vampire pretended to be catching lice. So she sucked out all her blood and at last swallowed her up and pot on her necklaces in her necks and bracelets in her wrists. In the meantime, Tlumte arrived and saw vampire sitting in place of his wife. Her look was as different as night is from day. He knew that she was not his wife, but he did not see his wife either. “O my! How different you are,” he exclaimed in amazement. Your nails are sharp and pointed and your eyes are shrinking,” said Tlumte. “My nails are sharp for pointing to the direction of your coming my eyes shrank for eagerly looking to your coming,” replied she. “But you’re not my wife. Vanchunglaizuor,” repeated Tlumte. “I am,” she insisted. Tlumte knew that the vampire was not his wife but he did not see his wife either. So he commanded, “Get down, take the lead, if you don’t know the right path, you are not my wife. That’s a good proof.” She got down, took the lead and set off. At every crossing she was at a loss as to which path to take and took the wrong path. “I mean we’re visiting our grand mother’s village,” she excused herself.

The people were eagerly waiting for the arrival of the bride and the bridegroom. When they reached the village outskirt, people thronged the areas, but when they saw the bride, they were very disappointed and angry. Is this the paramour of eastern beauty whose fame spread far and wide? Shame, shame on you,” jeered the curious crowd. Tlumte was full of shame. They were passing through the crowd towards their home. She did not know her husband’s house and entered the wrong house. “If you are Vanchunglaizuor, you will know my house, but you don’t know it. So you are not Vanchunglaizuor but somebody else,” said Tlumte again. At this the vampire said that she entered somebody’s house knowingly just to see whether they are alright. So they lived as husband and wife reservedly. The vampire had a bad and dirty habit. At night she used to pass her stools near the house. In course of time a gourd creeping into the house and a tender gourd, the size of a baby’s head was hanging on the wall. Inside of the gourd was the spirit of Vanchunglaizuor. Tlumte and his wife went to their jhum every day and came back only at dusk. During their absence, Vanchunglaizuor came out of the gourd and cooked food and did all the domestic works and entered back into the gourd. Whenever they returned from jhum, they found their food cooked and ready and the house very clean. But they could not guess who had done all these things every day for them. They were in utter amazement.

One day, Tlumte thought to himself, “I will find out who did it.” So he pretended to be indisposed and sent his wife alone to jhum. When evening was approaching, he hid himself at the corner of his bed and kept a watchful eye. When evening came, Vanchunglaizuor jumped out of the gourd, lighted the fire, swept the floor and started cooking. Like a lightning, Tlumte jumped out and caught hold of his beloved wife. He was eager to know the circumstances leading to such situation and asked her many question one after another. Vanchunglaizuor narrated the events from the beginning to the end. Tlumte was full of anger against the vampire and began to sharpen his dao. Evening came, the vampire arrived and was standing at the door with basket on her back full of leaves for pigs. “Open the door,” she shouted. “Yes” came the reply from within but no action. She shouted at her husband in anger for his delay. Impatient, she broke open the door, rebuking him with abusive words. He jumped at her and vut her in two with his sharp dao. One portion he threw down to backside of the house and the other to the frontside. The portion thrown to the backside sprouted into a broad leaf plant and the one thrown outside the house turned into a big rock.

Tlumte and Vanchunglaizuor now lived happily for some time. He was now really proud of his wife and wanted everybody in the village to see her face to face. One day he told all the village women that his wife would visit each house in search of broad leaves for wrapping cooked rice. At the same time, he also instructed them not to give her any leave even if they had. So, one morning, Vanchunglaizuor visited one house after another in search of leaves, but each house hold woman expressed regret. So, she visited all the houses in that morning. All women were really amazed at her beauty. She returned home, tired and dazed. “If you don’t get any leave, you just wrap it with your apron,” said Tlumte. So saying he went ahead to their jhum thinking that his wife would follow him soon. She looked through the window and saw broad leaf plant standing by the back of the house. “Ah, that leaves are good for the purpose,” said she and went down to take it. Inside the plant was the spirit of the vampire. As she was cutting it, the plant swallowed her up. Tlumte was waiting for her in the jhum. He was very much worried about her since she did not follow him. He returned home from the jhum full of misgivings. He was looking for her every nook and corner. In anger he cut the plant at the back of the house and found her out encaged within the bud of the plant. Since that time onwards, Vanchunglaizuor looked pale and sickly. She fell ill almost daily. But Tlumte had to leave her at home alone. One morning she basked herself on the rock inside which was the spirit of the vampire. The rock swallowed her up again. Evening came. Tlumte was looking for her every nook and corner. At last he suspected the rock. He piled up woods on the rock and set on fire. As the smoke was billowing forth, he saw his paramour flying away upward in the thick smoke.

Source: Prof.(Dr.) Lal Dena,Hmar Folk Tales, Scholar Publishing House, New Delhi, 1995.

Sakhilawngdar

Long long ago there was an ugly young man named Riengtepa. He was so ugly that no girl of the village wanted to marry him. However he was a good hunter. Whenever he was out hunting he returned successful.

One day he was out hunting. He found fresh footprints of a stag. He started following the foot-prints. One fairy also was following the same animal. As they met each other all of a sudden face to face, Riengtepa caught hold of the beautiful fairy. She was struggling hard but he gripped her hand so firmly that she could not run away. “You are a beautiful lady and I am a bachelor; so I will take you home to be my wife”, said Riengtepa excitedly. So, he took the fairy home to be his wife. She was a shy lady and requested her husband not to tell anybody of the village about her. He agreed to her request and named her Sakhilawngdar.

She was a witch and could perform miracles. Through her ingenuity, the village was transformed beyond recognition within a short time. The people also prospered in all their works. In course of time the people made Riengtepa their honoured chief.

The new chief was held in high respect by his subjects and wherever he went he killed pigs goats and cows. Within a short time he was completely spoilt and became a habitual drinker. He used to stay away from home many a time quite impervious of his duties as head of the village. Once he visited a house where local wine was sold and stayed the whole night with his drunken friends. His wife got annoyed and sent her little daughter to call him. The little girl went running and from the door, “Pa pa, Mummy sends me to call you”, she said innocently. He did not take any heed and kept on drinking. For the second time she sent the girl. The girl said the same thing. “Yes, I’ll come”, said he, but kept on drinking. For the thir time she sent the girl and Riengtepa shouted at the girl, “That Sakhilawngdar, let her go back, I don’t mind”. The girl returned home running and reported the father’s angry words. So they left home to the forest on that very moment in anger and humiliation.

After two days, Riengtepa came home and found the house deserted and empty, he felt lonely and miserable. Thus he became his old self again. There was none to look after the domestic affairs. Slowly he became poorer and poorer and soon became a wandering vagabond. Sakhilawngdar and her daughter looked down from the sky and saw him wandering in hunger and thirst. The little girl took pity on him and said to her mother, “Mummy I pity my daddy, let us give him food.” “Drop him your little pot”, said the mother. She dropped him the little pot filled with cooked rice. The pot could not go empty. Riengtepa was very happy now because whenever he felt hungry he easily poured enough rice from the pot. He carried it wherever he went.

One day he visited a big village and the headman was Vailal. He was cunning, proud and overbearing. He saw Riengtepa’s never-go-empty pot and challenged its miracle. So, he proposed a bet as to who had more of cooked rice. He commanded all his servants to cook as much rice as they could. On the appointed day before the crowd, they began pouring out the cooked rice. When all the pots were emptied from the Vailal’s side, Riengtepa’s pot remained full. So they snatched the little pot from him and beat him right and left, and bound him from head to foot.

On the following day, Vailal would ask Riengtepa three puzzles. If he could not solve them he would be put to death. A messenger was sent to him about the decision and was given one hour time for deep meditation. After the lapse of an hour, Vailal and his council members arrived at the scene and Riengtepa was mentally prepared for any eventuality. Vailal taunted jeeringly, “you sloth Riengtepa, I will ask you only three questions. If you can answer correctly, I’ll let you free, if you don’t you are doomed.” “Yes” said Riengtepa with calm resignation.

All the council members and the entire village people gathered together forming a ring around Riengtepa with unsual excitement. They brought before him two women (One was the mother and the other her daughter, but looked equal in age) and asked him to point out the mother. He looked at them and they looked so equal that he found it impossible to point out the mother. So he took a stick and inflicted a hard blow to one of them. She cried, “Ma, Ma, how painful!” At once he recognised the other on was the mother. He proved correct. They all appreciated his presence of mind. Then they wrapped a cow with cloth in such a way that it was impossible which side was the head and which side the hind. The put it before him and was asked to point out the head portion. He at once thought out a plan. He took the same stick and inflicted a heavy blow and the cow jumped out. So, easily he pointed out the head portion. They all praised his presence of mind.

They again wrapped a cat in such a way that it was impossible to differentiate between the back and the front. The chief said, “This is a cat, you have to tell me which side is the back side. If you can’t, you will be put to death outright,” Riengtepa took the wrapped cat and dropped it from overhead. The cat stood on four legs. So easily he told the impatient chief the back side of the cat. They all appreciated his presence of mind. So, they set him free with his little pot.

It is said that within an hour of his meditation, his fairy wife had told him the solutions.

Source: Prof.(Dr.) Lal Dena,Hmar Folk Tales, Scholar Publishing House, New Delhi, 1995.

Sawrlai

Once upon a time, there lived a famous, king called Lalvung. He had seven sons and one daughter.  The youngest son was called Tlumte and the daughter was called Sawrlai. Lalvung was so rich that there was nothing on earth which he did not possess. He wanted to have the stars of the sky. So he and his seven sons confabulated and decided to go up in the sky to take the stars. They thus started their adventurous journey in space leaving behind Sawrlai alone in their palace.

Being the youngest, Tlumte used to go down every day to take seven packed food and curry from his sister Sawrlai. The palace had eight layers of wall which could be opened from inside only. Whenever Tlumte got down to the palace, he used to knock the door, saying, “Dear sister, Sawrlai. Give me seven packed food and curry. Let the eight layers of the wall be opened.” Whenever Sawrlai heard Tlumte’s voice, she used to open the door for him and gave seven packed food and curry for her father and brothers.

On one occasion, Vawmpahrawng happened to see Sawrlai by chance and the manner in which she gave food to her brother Tlumte by opening the eight layers of the wall. He became restless and wanted to marry her. Getting to the palace’s gate early next morning Vawmpahrawng knocked the door as Tlumte did. But Sawrlai could easily distinguish his coarse voice from her brother’s and did not like to open the door for him. Vawmpahrawng was so disappointed but was still trying to find out other means by which he could somehow reach Sawrlai. One day he went to a widow who lived down in his village and sought her advice as to how he could imitate Tlumte’s voice. The widow told Vawmpahrawng to lick the urine of Tlumte every morning for several days and his voice would be like Tlumte’s voice. Having done as he was advised, his voice sounded exactly like the voice of Tlumte and proceeded towards the palace. Getting to the door, he knocked, saying, “Dear sister, Sawrlai. Give me seven packed food and curry and let the eight layers of the wall be opened.” Sawrlai could no longer differentiate the voice of Vawmpahrawng from Tlumte’s and then opened the door. In no time, Vawmpahrawng caught hold of Sawrlai and forcibly took her away to a far off place.

After sometime Tlumte descended from the space as usual and knocked the door as he used to do before. But alas! There was no more response. Disappointed, he went up again in the sky and informed his brothers about what had happened in their palace. Lalvung and his seven sons put their heads together and decided to go back to their palace. On arrival, their father first tried to force open the door by throwing a long wooden rod on the wall. But it boomeranged and hit just on his forehead and died instantly but leaving one layer of the door opened. Then the oldest brother also tried as their father did but met the same fate, of course, leaving the second layer of the door opened. All the brothers threw the rod at the door in turn and died one after another, but each time, one layer of the door was opened. At last Tlumte’s turn came and threw the wooden rod at the last layer of the door. The door opened and Tlumte entered the palace. Seeing that Sawrlai was no more there, he sobbed bitterly. He arranged the dead bodies of his father and brothers on the long wooden plank in order of seniority. Closing the door, he went up on the terrace of their palace at night and laid flat on his back and kept on weeping. After sometime, he became so thirsty but there was no water. Looking up desperately, he said, “Oh! What a fool we are? We have been trying to take stars only for our own destruction. I am the only one who is surviving now. I feel so dejected and must die of thirst. Oh! God of Heaven and God of Earth, come and help me!” Then and there, a few drops of dew fell right into his mouth and he felt quite refreshed. Mastering all his strength, he got up and set out to search for his sister Sawrlai.

By transforming himself into a dove, he flew hither and thither knowing not which direction to fly to. At last, he saw a cultivator clearing weeds in his jhum from a distance. He was flying towards him and asked, “Did you happen to see my sister Sawrlai?” “Yes, I have seen her. But she must have crossed over big and high mountains by now,” replied the man. Afterwards, he was flying towards two persons weeding their jhum. Tlumte was told to go to three persons, four persons and so on. At last, he came across ten persons weeding their jhum and asked them whether they have seen his sister. They said to Tlumte, “Fly to the woman there in the village who is weaving and talk to her.” All of a sudden, Tlumte was flying again in full speed towards the woman and sat on the branch of a tree in front of the women and asked, “Have you seen my sister Sawrlai?” The woman happened to be Sawrlai. She then said to the dove, “If you are really my brother Tlumte, come and sit on the rail of my Tlangkhang*, Then the dove descended and sat on the rail. Sawrlai said again, “If you are really my brother, come and drink the water in my bowl.” Again, the dove went down and drank the water. At that moment, Sawrlai caught the dove and kissed him, saying “Baby, how do you manage to come to this far-off place just to search for me? I love you so much!” The dove replied, “Set me free, I am really afraid of your husband. Had he seen me, he shall surely kill me.” Sawrlai assured him that no harm would be done to him. She then covered him with a basket and hid him in one corner of the house.

Vawmpahrawng returned from his jhum in his house. One day during the absence of Vawmpahrawng, the dove prompted his sister to ask her husband about the technique of dealing with fire and flood. When Vawmpahrawng returned in the evening, he disclosed all his secrets to his wife, adding that “the pigeon above us is my life and soul. Its legs are my legs and its wings are my arms.” The next day when Vawmpahrawng was away from home, Sawrlai and her brother ran away with the pigeon and Vawmpahrawng’s magical box containing the seeds of creeper, fire, water and forest.

When Vawmpahrawng came to know that Sawrlai ran away, he ran helter skelter. He suspected that Sawrlai must have run away with her brother and he soon ran after them. Realising that they were being chased by Vawmpahrawng, Sawrlai and Tlumte threw the seeds of creepers. But Vawmpahrawng passed through the thick creepers easily. They then threw the seeds of fire, flood and forest one after another. Still Vawmpahrawng could pass through them without much difficulty. When Vawmpahrawng was about to overtake them, a voice from above said to Sawrlai and Tlumte, “Break the wings of the pigeon.” Then, Tlumte broke both the wings of the pigeon.” Then, Tlumte broke both the wings of the pigeon and immediately Vawmpahrawng’s arms also were broken. Again, Tlumte broke both the legs of the pigeon and Vawmpahrawng collapsed and died.

Secure and safe, Sawrlai and Tlumte had collected seven hnathiel leaves along with seven bamboo pipes full of holy water on which no birds had ever passed their stool. On reaching their palace again, they rearranged the bones of their father and brothers on the seven wild leaves. They then sprinkled the holy water on the bones. Alas! The bones started moving and joined one another. They sprinkled the holy water again on the bones and the bones were covered with flesh. For the third time, they sprinkled the water again and the dead bodies began to sneeze and rose again. In this way, the family lived happily as ever before.

Source: Prof.(Dr.) Lal Dena,Hmar Folk Tales, Scholar Publishing House, New Delhi, 1995

Mauruong

Once upon a time, there lived a lovely little girl. Her name was Mauruong. She was the only child, happily living with her parents. But her father had fallen in love with their neighbor whoman who wanted dispose Mauruong’s mother by any means. One day, Mauruong’s parents went to another village in search of grain. On their way back, they had to crosss a very big river by a bridge. When they reached the middle of the bridge, Mauruong’s father pushed Mauruong’s mother into the river and she got drowned. Mauruong was waiting for her parents at the outskirt of their village anxiously. She saw only her father coming. She enquired about her mother but her father did not like to tell her the truth.

One day, during the absence of Mauruong and her father, the woman who fell in love with Mauruong’s father, extinguished the fire in the heart of their house. Mauuong was sent to the house of the woman to fetch fire. The woman said to her, “If your father does not marry me, I shall not give you my fire.” Dumbfounded, she came back home and reported it to her father. As already planned, Mauruong’s father agreed to marry her. The woman also brought her own daughter called Subimtaitawt to live with them.

For sometime all was well. Slowly the step-mother revealed her true nature. She began to ill-treat Mauruong and gave her food fit for pigs only. She gave her dirty, tattered and shabby clothes. As a result, she grew thinner and thinner and looked sick. In sheer despair, Mauruong wandered from place to place. One day, she happened to pass by one river where her mother got drowned. There her mother had turned into a dolphin. When she saw her daughter, she was surprised at her emaciated look. “Why do you look so thin and pale?” she asked.

Mauruong narrated in details about her pathetic and sad story. Her mother was deeply moved. She asked Mauruong to come to the river every day for food. She caught fishes and crabs and prepared nice dishes and offered to her daughter every day. As a result, Mauruong was growing in stature and in beauty gradually. Her step-mother was worried at her changed look and detailed Subimtaitawt to tail her. Her going to the river everyday for food was found out. The step-mother invited the whole villages for fishing in the river with poisonous plants. Dry season came and water was receding. It was the right season for fishing. All the adults carried poisonous plants on their back to the river. Mauruong was worried for her mother. She went ahead and warned her mother of the impending danger. “I will give you danger signal. When I sing, “Mother, down the river, you swim up the river,” and when I sing, “Mother, up the river, you swim down the river.” The mother nodded.

People arrived and pounded the poisonous plants on the bank of the river and dipped into the water. The water turned brownish and was foaming. Small fishes ran helter shelter upside down. The poison spread and began to take tolls. Then, Mauruong started singing, “Mother, up the river, mother down the river.” Her mother ran up and down to escape the danger. “As long as this girl was here, we wouldn’t be able to catch this big dolphin”, said they. So they dragged her away and caught the dolphin. They divided the flesh among themselves and Mauruong collected the bones. She buried it on the river bank. From that day onward Mauruong had been suffering from malnutrition. She grew pale and thin. In sheer despair, she visited the river bank and to her surprise, saw the bones sprouting into a beautiful Phunchawng plant. Soon it was blooming. She visited the tree every day and enjoyed its nectar. Gradually she became normal and her look changed almost every day. Her step-mother was worried again at her changed look. So, she detailed Subimtaitawt to tail her again. At last, it was found that she visited the tree daily and enjoyed its nectar. Once again the step-mother invited the villagers to fell the tree. The villagers cut the tree with axe. As they were cutting, Mauruong cried, “Mother, don’t give away. Mother, don’t give away.” So long as she cried like this it could not fall down. “As long as this girl is with us, we should not be able to fell down this tree”, they said. So, they dragged her away and the tree fell down with a loud thud.

Mauruong’s father had two separate jhum, one for Mauruong and the other for Subimtaitawt. The step-mother gave all the good seeds to her daughter and all the bad seeds to Mauruong. However, Mauruong’s seeds sprouted nicely and she weeded the jhum properly. Subimtaitawt’s seeds did not sprout nicely and she didn’t weed the jhum properly. Monsoon came and the jhum looked green. Whereas in Mauruong’s jhum, all kinds of vegetables such as cucumber, melon, maize, etc grew abundantly.

An inter-village path passed through Mauruong’s jhum. One day, as she was weeding the jhum alone, a group of strangers entered her thatched jhum-hut and took rest. Mauruong offered them cucumber, melon and maize which they relished very much. They were surprised at her hospitality to the strangers. At last, their leader told her purpose of their visit saying, “We are visiting this village in search of a suitable match for our master Vailal*. We are satisfied with you. We shall take you to be our master’s wife, if you agree.” “I have no objection, but I have a step-mother, she also has a daughter and may favour her more than me”, replied she modestly. They all put their heads together as to what to do about it. At last, the leader advanced a proposal, “Alright, we shall go to your house with marriage proposal and if she favoured her own daughter we shall have no objection. We shall carry her by a palanquin and you also should accompany us up to the forest. Then we shall throw her out and carry you in her place.” They all agreed to the proposal. They reached the village and entered the house with the marriage proposal. He step-mother favoured Subimtaitaw and talked of her modesty, industry and all her feminine qualities at the expense of Mauruong. So, they agreed to take Subimtaitawt. They pad the bride-price also. The mother’s joy knew no bounds. They carried Subimtaitawt by a palanquin and Mauruong was following them pretending to see her half-sister off. When they reached a forest, they threw her out and carried Mauruong instead. Subimtaitawt cried and returned home in shame. Her mother’s wrath defied all description.

When Vailal saw Mauruong, he admired her beauty and loved her very much. He brought her cotton thread, spinning wheel and all weaving materials. She was an expert in weaving loin-looms of various designs. They had a very happy conjugal life. The step-mother was thinking seriously as to how she was to take revenge. She sent a nice message to Vailal expressing her joy at their happy conjugal life and her desire to see them. At the same time she reminded him that it was time either for the bridegroom or the bride to visit the bride’s parents some months after marriage. Unaware of the danger waiting for her, Mauruong had to oblige her step-mother’s word.

Unfortunately, her husband could not accompany her for domestic reasons. She reached home and was received by her step-mother openly and warmly, hiding her real feelings. One day she said, “My daughter Mauruong, you have been away for some months. There mayhave been many lice on your head.” So saying she parted Mauruong’s long hair from behind on the elevated open porch. She sat just behind Mauruong and started her feigned search for live. She purposely dropped her comb through the hole and said, “Oh No! I dropped my comb”, and asked Mauruong to go down and pick it up. Unaware of her step-mother’s motive, she went down to pick up the comb. As she was bending to take the comb, her step-mother poured a big potfull of boiling water on her. She collapsed unconsciously and was thrown away presuming her to be dead.

Months had passed. Mauruong did not return to her husband. At last, Vailal sent a group of his men to take her. When they reached home, Subimtaitawt was presented to them saying that she was not Mauruong, but they did not know how to argue because Mauruong was no more. “this is the real Mauruong, your rightful mistress”, insisted the mother. However, in spite of their honest doubts, they had to carry Subimtaitawt. As they were passing through the forest, a bird on the way side chirped, “Whom you’re carrying is not Vailal’s wife, but Subimtaitawt.” As long as they were carrying her, the bird was chirping like that.

They arrived home. When Vailal looked at her, she was a different woman. “Why, your mistress was very different”, he enquired. They also expressed thir doubts. “Let us test her”, one of them suggested. So, they asked her to weave the unfinished loin-loom left by Mauruong. She sat on it, but didn’t know how to handle it. A bird perching on the branch of a nearby tree instructed her, “Turn the one end upside down and the other downside up.” “You bloody bird, what are you saying? Shut up”, she shouted at the bird. Some of Vailal’s men were out hunting in the thick forest. In the silence of the forest where the sound of the running brook along was heard, a peculiar human voice was heard:

“In the old old days,

Vailal’s wife I was;

But now was I,

Tending Sajaw’s baby;

Sleep my baby, sleep.”

She was lulling the baby to sleep on the huge branch of a tree. They cocked their ears/ “Unbelievable”, said they to one another. One of them crawled steadily and had a clearer look and to his surprise she was no other than his old mistress. They took courage and approach her. She narrated her pathetic story from the beginning, how she was thrown away presumed to be dead and that Sajaw chanced upon her and healed her with medicinal herbs and made her a servant. They persuaded her to accompany them right away. But she couldn’t leave Sajaw’s house without his permission as she owed her life to him. So they waited till he returned from jhum. When he came, they told him everything. They gave him two bananas and took their mistress back. When they reached home, Vailal was very happy to see his long parted rightful wife. They thought out a plan to eliminate Subimtaitawt. They told Mauruong of their plan. They prepared two swords, one the real one which was very sharp and the other made from wood which looked sharp outwardly because it was painted white. They were to fight a duel. Subimtaitawt was the one to choose the sword first. Obviously she chooses the wooden sword as it looked better and sharper. Mauruong asked her to strike her first. Subimtaitawt struck her at the shoulder but to no effect. Mauruong’s turn came, she cut her in two.

The servants of Vailal made Sathu out of her flesh. They sent words to her mother in the name of Subimtaitawt that they killed their big pig and made Sathu. Accordingly, Subimtaitawt’s mother went there and brought back three gourds full of Sathu. When she approached home, she shared it with her neighbours telling them that Subimtaitawt had given all these things. Her neighbour widow was also given one gourdful of it. When she poured out, she found to her utter surprise, fingers bones and toe bones of human being. She also found a scar mark which was in Subimtaitawt’s face. “Ah, this scar mark looks like that of Subimtaitawt’s”, she expressed in surprise. When she looked at the toe bones and finger bones, they resembled that of Subimtaitawt’s. She ran to Subimtaitawt’s mother and expressed her doubts. But Subimtaitawt’s mother rebuked her like anything. “What the hell are you talking about? How do you say that it is my daughter’s flesh? I’m cent per cent sure that its pork.” However, she had a lurking doubt about it. So, secretly she examined the flesh and at last confirmed that it was the flesh of her own daughter. She prepared to take revenge and proceeded to the Vailal’s village.

Soon the servants of Vailal saw Subimtaitatw’s mother coming towards them. As she came nearer, she started murmuring and shouted at them, saying, “You scoundrel, you have cheated me that my daughter Subimtaitawt has killed me a pig. But instead, you have killed her and made me carry home her permeated flesh.’ With a sharp sword in her hand, she was running amuck. At this, the servants of Vailal threw their spears at her and killed her. From that time onwards, Mauruong lived with her husband happily and peacefully.

Source: Prof.(Dr.) Lal Dena,Hmar Folk Tales, Scholar Publishing House, New Delhi, 1995

Mauzungrakel

Once upon a time there was a very ugly man called Mauzungrakel. To add to his ugliness, he also suffered from leprosy. He had a dog which also suffered from leprosy. The chief of the village where Mauzungrakel lived had a very beautiful daughter named Chawnpui.l Every young man of the village coveted the hand of Chawnpui for marriage. But it happened that Chawnpui had conceived the child of Mauzungrakel.

Their illicit relationship started like this. The girls of the village used to carry home grain-rice from barn in a jungle early in the morning. Because of dew on the roadside wild plants, the petticoats of all other girls except Chawnpui’s, got completely wet. The villagers were really taken aback. Mauzungrakel was determined to find out why Chawnpui’s petticoat never got wet. He got up early in the morning and hid himself on the roadside where Chawnpui was to come. As usual, Chawnpui came along the road lifting her petticoat up to her waist so that the dew would not touch her petticoat. Mauzungrakel came to see with his own eyes why Chawnpui’s petticoat never got wet. Jumping out of his hiding place, he stood just in front of Chawnpui. Chawnpui felt so ashamed that she begged Mauzungrakel not to expose her publicly. The latter agreed to her request on one condition that he should first sleep with her. Chawnpui had no choice and thus gave in to his demand. Soon she was pregnant and gave birth to a son.

In spite of her parent’s repeated chiding, Chawnpui did not like to disclose who the father of her son was. The chief at last thought out a plan as to how he could find out the real father of his grandson. One day he made a proclamation that all the young men of the village, while returning from jhum in the evening, should make a line and then enter the village gate one by one. He further proclaimed that Chawnpui’s son would intensely look at each and every one and point at his real father.

Every young man wanted to marry Chawnpui and thought what could best draw the attention of Chawnpui’s son. They plucked different kinds of flowers and put on their ears. As they entered the village gate, they made gestures, showing Chawnpui’s son the beautiful flowers on their ears. Whenever Chawnpui saw handsome young man, she used to poke her son’s abdomen. Because she wanted to marry the most handsome young man of the village.

All but Mauzungrakel had passed through the village gate. To the surprise of all, none was pointed at. At last, Mauzungrakel came slowly, holding one feet long stem of a plant at the end of which was tied a flying beetel. When he came nearer and nearer, Chawnpui’s son become restless and pointed at Mauzungrakel, shouting, “Pa-pa, Pa-pa.”

Chawnpui had to marry Mauzungrakel. The chief was so angry that he drove out Chawnpui and Mauzungrakel from the village and told them go settle below the outskirt of the village. Chawnpui detested her husband so much that she did not allow him and his dog to stay inside their house. In this way, Mauzungrakel and his dog used to sleep in the front porch and never had meal together with his wife.

One fine morning, Mauzungrakel and his dog went out for hunting. As they entered the thick jungle, the dog chanced to see a small pond. He stopped and barked at the pond endlessly. Even when Mauzungrakel pushed his dog and dog refused and kept on barking as before. Mauzungrakel got so angry with his dog that he pushed him into the pond. And lo : the leprous dog was completely healed and became the most beautiful dog of the country : Mauzungrakel was dumbstruck at what was happening. He thought to himself that if the pond could cure his dog, it would surely cure him also. Mauzungrakel soon jumped into the pond and also became the most handsome person ever born. Mauzungrakel and his dog moved on. Soon they passed through the jungle where a group of monkeys were jumping from one branch of a tree to another. One of them carried a magic drum. When he beat the drum, saying, “Let all the fruits of this branch be ripe, “ the fruits became ripe in a twinkling of an eye.

Seeing this, Mauzungrakel and his dog coveted the magic drum and ran after the monkey who carried the drum. With the drum, the monkey could not jump freely and became very tired. At last Mauzungrakel and his dog caught the monkey and snatched away the magic drum. When they came across unripe fruits on the way, Mauzungrakel beat the drum as the monkey did then all the unripe fruits became ripe all of a sudden. They were very happy and returned home.

As usual, Mauzungrakel and his dog stayed in the front porch of their house. When Chawnpui saw Mauzungrakel and his dog, she could not even believe her own eyes. She was stunned by the beauty of Mauzungrakel and his dog. Soon Chawnpui made the evening meal ready. She whispered to her son to invite his father to have meal with them. In case he refused, she also told her son what he should do. The child then asked his father to have meal with his mother. But Mauzungrakel replied. “No, my son. Your mummy detests me.” Then the child said, “If you do not, I am falling from the wooden frome of the fireshelf..” At this, Chawnpui intervened, “Instead of letting the child fall, why don’t you come in.” Mauzungrakel went in and had meal with Chawnpui. Soon it was night and time to sleep and the child, as told in advance by his mother, called his father again, “Daddy, please come and sleep.” “No, my son. Your mummy detests me,” replied Mauzungrakel. Then, the child started moving towards the edge of the bed, saying, “If you do not, I am falling from the bed.”

Again, Chawnpui intervened and said, “Instead of letting the child fall, why don’t you come and sleep? Mauzungrakel could no longer resist and went to sleep with his wife.

You must remember that Mauzungrakel and his family lived below the outskirt of the main village of his father-in-law’s. The villagers of Mauzungrakel and that of the chief’s village had a common pond. Because of the fast increasing population of Mauzungrakel’s village, the water was no longer sufficient for the two villagers. There ensured a serious quarrel between the two villages which ultimately culminated in inter-village war. The whole village of Mauzungrakel was soon swept over by the chief’s warriors, leaving behind almost all the houses burned down. At last, some surviving villagers rushed to Mauzungrakel who was basking in the sun and appealed to him, “Look! We all are perishing now! Will you not help us? Then Mauzungrakel stood up slowly, and turned round, seeing the dead bodies lying like logs, and the houses burning with heavy smoke still curling up the sky said, “Let all the hosts and their houses stand up again, and let all the enemies die.” As he said this, he beat his magic drum and behold! All his dead villagers rose up again with new houses instantly. On the other hand, all the chief’s warriors died and perished. After this, Mauzungrakel extended his hegemony over his father-in-law’s land and village and ruled over them as chief. Despise not the ugly goes the Hmar proverb.

Source: Prof.(Dr.) Lal Dena,Hmar Folk Tales, Scholar Publishing House, New Delhi, 1995

Rungnu and Zawngte

Rungnu and Zawngte were once friends. Rungnu had a very beautiful musical instrument called rawsem**. She used to play with it and danced with joy. Zawngte was envious of it. He wanted to steal it. One day, Zawngte tried to bluff Rungnu, saying, “Rungnu, your mummy asked you to go to your jhum immediately and deliver her wrapped cooked rice.” Rungnu then rushed to their jhum with the wrapped rice, leaving behind her musical instrument at home. While she was away, zawngte went to Rungnu’s house and stole her rawsem.

Zawngte now played with it happily and sung thus:

I stole Rungnu’s rawsem,
With the red monkey’s prepuce retracting widely,
And his testicles beating hither and thither.

Rungnu was very sad. She wanted to get it back. She also thought out a plan as to how she could get it back. One day, Rungnu called on Zawngte and said to him, “Mr. Zawngte, your mummy asked you to unhusk your paddy.” Zawngte replied that he had done it already. As her first trick failed, Rungnu told Zawngte that his mummy had asked him to cook. Zawngte said that he had cooked it. As her second tricked failed, Rungnu told Zawngte that his mummy had asked him to go to sleep. Now, Zawngte retired to bed and slept very soundly.

While Zawngte was asleep, Rungnu stealthily went to Zawngte’s house and took away the rawsem. But when Rungnu was about to fly away with it through the window, Zawngte woke up and rushed to the window. He somehow managed to catch hold of Rungnu’s tail. Rungnu was struggling so hard that she lost her tail but managed to fly away with her rawsem.

One day when Rungnu met Zawngte again she asked him to give back her tail. Zawngte said that he could return her tail if she instantly offered him 300 coins. Rungnu had no coins to offer to him. As a result, she never got back her tail. You will see till today that all the Rungnus have bobbed tail.

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* Rungnu means little female partridge and Zawngte means little monkey.
* Rawsem is something like a bamboo flute.

Source: Prof.(Dr.) Lal Dena,Hmar Folk Tales, Scholar Publishing House, New Delhi, 1995.

Chemtattepu

Once upon a time, there lived a man called Chemttatepu. Once he went to a river to sharpen his dao. As he was sharpening his dao on a stone, the Crayfish came and pricked his testicle. Out of anger, Chemtattepu sliced off the bamboo nearby and the pumpkin on the top of the bamboo fell and hit the hip of a wild fowl. Outraged, the wild fowl scratched the nest of red ants. The angry ants then bit the testicle of a wild boar. The wild boar got wild. Running amuck, he felled the wild plantain where a bat lived. Having no place to live, the bat flew into the ear of an elephant. The angry elephant then knocked down the house of a widow. The widow got angry and then passed her stool at the source of the village pond.

The whole villagers were angry with the widow. They asked her why she had passed her stool at the source of the pond. In self-defense, the widow said that she did because the elephant knocked down the widow’s house because the bat flew into his ear. The bat then said that the wild boar felled the wild plantain where he lived. The villagers now summoned the wild boar and the latter said that the red ants bit his testicles. The red ants came forward and told the villagers that they bit the wild boar’s testicles because the wild fowl scratched their nest. The wild fowl said that the pumpkin at the top of the bamboo fell and hit her hip. The pumpkin then explained that Chemtattepu felled the bamboo where he lived. Chemtattepu was then made to appear before the whole villagers. He told them that he sliced off the bamboo because the crayfish pricked his testicle.

At last, the crayfish was caught and asked to explain why he pricked the Chemtattepu’s testicle. The crayfish was muttering, “Ih! Ih! Ah!” For the crayfish had no one to blame. He was thus to be punished for his crime. He told the villagers thus: “You can punish me in two ways – either you put me into the fire or drop me in a deep pool. If you put me into a fire, I shall turn red. And if you put me in a pool, I shall turn black.” Knowing not what would be the more befitting punishment, the villagers drop the crayfish into the pool. The crayfish soon swam away and took shelter under a stone inside the water. The villagers tried their utmost to drive out the crayfish with the stem of hnathiel. The angry crayfish cursed the stem, saying, “Let the stem by which you poked me about be burst out on its top end.” Till today, you will notice this particular full-grown hnathiel plant bursting out on its top end.

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* Hnathiel: It is broad leaf wild plant of about four feet high found in a thick jungle. The leaf is used for roofing and for wrapping cooked food by the Hmars and other kindred tribes when they go to their journey and jhum.

Source: Prof.(Dr.) Lal Dena,Hmar Folk Tales, Scholar Publishing House, New Delhi, 1995.

Lersi and Zingthlo

When the Hmar groups of people were settled in Shan State of Myanmar, there were great Chiefs among them. Some of the well-known ones were Lersi, Zingthlo and Luopui. Of them Lersi and Zingthlo were said to be brothers and after becoming Chiefs, they parted ways to rule over their own territories. Lersi ruled over territories in the south, and Zingthlo was the Chief in the northern territories. Lersi was known to be a very kind and simple man. He was also a righteous man and would mete out the same justice on the rich and the poor. His village had never suffered poverty and all the inhabitants were contented with their fair share of the riches and wealth. Whoever approached Lersi for his help would get the needed help and nobody ever leave him empty handed. Because of such kindness he was highly esteemed by all the people of his village. And even people of neighboring villages would often benefit from his benevolence. And because he was such a kind and righteous person, he also received much blessings and his fame was spreading by the days. He was also said to be a very successful person in agriculture. Whatever he grows he will reap a very good and plentiful harvest irrespective of where he grew the crops. He certainly appeared to be a man with the green thumb.

Because of his great success and wealth, it was said that he became a bit arrogant and offended the gods by sowing his own stool to see whether it will grow. It is said that the stool indeed had produced a plant which grew to the height of a house in one night. But because of his arrogance, the gods decided that the time had come for the prosperity to leave Lersi. It was decided that Lersi would lose his wealth the next occasion that he showed his arrogance by saying something offensive to the gods.

One day the gods sent many cockerels to his house. The cocks were crowing all over and no one could count their number. People were struck with the wonder and asked their Chiefs what the omen may signify. He simply said those were the poultry of the rich. At thise words the gods were not offended and he continued to be rich and to enjoy his wealth. In a similar way he was made more and more wealthy and each time he did not offend the gods. At last a great number of sparrows multiplied and came to the village of Lersi. The villagers once more approached their Chief to ask what the omen signified. This time, he was also baffled and looking at the activities of the sparrows, he said, “The birds certainly appear to be consumer of wealth”. With those words the gods decided that he had offended them, and began to drain his wealth. By the day and hour, his wealth began to decrease and he had become almost like an ordinary person in no time. He had a small daughter and he said to her, “Dear, it is certain that we aere becoming poor and your mother and I also may not live life for a long time. So after our death, try to earn your living by working in other’s house. Steal some things and your owner will sell you too others.. in this way, continue till you arrive there”. So saying, her parents sew special clothing in which beads of necklaces and other valuables were sewn in and were given to her. After a short while both the parents of the girl died and the little girl was left all alone.

As she became an orphan, she started living as her father had instructed her and began working as helper in different houses. She made sure that she was sold to other villages by committing theft till she indeed came to the very house of Zingthlo. She knew her uncle, but Zingthlo did not recognize the slave girl. She worked sincerely and never committed any theft in the house of her uncle, though she was reputed to be a thief. Her aunt tested her by keeping things deliberately exposed soo that she may steal them, but she would dutifully report the find to her aunt.

One autumn, Zingthlo performed the Inchawng ceremony. All the people of the village were invited and all remained in the village and no one went for work in the fields. However, since she was a slave girl, she was sent to the field to keep away the birds from the ripening grains. She requested her uncle that she be allowed to dance just one dance before she left for the field. It was refused at first, but after repeated request were made, she was allowed to take part in just one dance. With her torn and dirty clothes,, she began to dance and to sing songs. In the songs she recounted how she belonged to a wealthy family and how she had become poor after the death of her parents. Hearing her songs, her uncle recognized her as the very daughter of his brother Lersi. He got up from his seat and embraced the poor slave girl and accepted as his own his daughter from that day onwards.

Source: Vanlal T. Bapui, Oral Traditions of the Hmars,2011 (Assam Institute of Research for Tribals and Scheduled Castes, Guwahati)

Artuite

Once upon a time the hen and the wild cat were good friends. They used to live together peacefully. One day, they passed through under the raised floor of a certain house where chicken was being cooked. As the house owners were having their meal, they dropped the bones of chicken through the hole of the floor. The wild cat picked up the bones and ate them, they were so tasty. From that time onward, the wild cat wanted to kill the hen and eat her.

One night, the wild cat said to the hen, “In which coop will you sleep tonight?” The hen replied, “I shall sleep in the oval cdoop.” The wild cat searched for the hen at the oval coop that night. But he could not find the hen because the latter slept in the round coop. The next night, the hen told the wild-cat that she would sleep in the round coop. At midnight, the wild cat searched for the hen in the round coop. But the hen slept in the oval coop. On the following night, the hen said that she would sleep in the oval coop. The cat now relised the game of the hen and went straight to the round coop. He found her and ate her up.

After sometime, Artuite came to know the tragic death of his mother. He mastered all his courage and deecided to avenge the death of his mother. He started rolling towards the house of the wild cat. On the way, a group of red ants met him and asked: “Artuite, where are you going?” Artuite replied: “To avenge the death of my mother and to destroy the fencing of the wild cat.” The ants then said, “Wait, we are also following you.” Artuite rolled on followed by a group of ants. After sometime, chicken-drop stopped them and asked: “Artuite, where are you going?” “To avenge the death of my mother and to destroy the wild cat’s fencing,” replied Artuite. “Then I shall join you”, said the chicken-drop. Artuite went on rolling, followed by the ants and the chicken-drop. Before they went too far, Tlaihnat* stopped them and asked: “Artuite, where are you going?” “To avenge the death of my mother and to destroy the wild cat’s fencing,” Replied Artuite. “I am also joining you”, said Tlaihnat. Soon artuite and his party met Mankkhawng** and the latter asked: “Artuite, where are you going?” “To avenge the death of my mother and to destroy the wild cat’s fencing”, replied Artuite.

Mankhawng said to them, “I am also joining you.” Lastly, a swarm fo bees also followed Artuite and his party. Now, Artuite commanded a very powerful band of warriors and felt quite confident.

When they reached the house of the wild cat, the cat had gone out to look for food. They lost no time to take their positions. Artuite was a good strategist. Each of them took positions at strategic places. Artuitehid himself inside the ash in the hearth, the ants at the mouth of bamboo tube, the chicken-drop at the handle of the broom, Tlaihnat on the wall, Mankhawng at the exit of the door and the swarm of bees under the blanket on the bed.

Soon the wild cat returned hime, weary and tired. As he was so hungry, he made himself to prepare at evening meal. The moment he scratched the ash in the hearth to make fire.Artuite exploded all of a sudden and splashed all over the wild cat’s face. Knowing not what to do, the cat went to get water for wash. Just then a group of red ants at the mouth of the bamboo-tube began to attack him. In order to get rid of the ants, he took the broom on the floor and his fingers were stained with the chicken-drop. To remove the smelly chicken-drop, he wiped his hand on the bamboo-wall and Tlaihnat on the wall cut his fingers. Out of despair, he went up to the bed to hide himself under the blanket. Then, the bees under the blanket began to sting him all over his body. The cat felt so helpless. He thought it would be safe if he could run out of the hosue. As he was trying to go out at the exit of the door, he was immediately trapped under Mankhawng and died. In theis way, the death of the hen was at last avenged. The innocent, when provoked, are no less. Do not provoke the innocent goes the Hmar proverb.

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Source: Prof.(Dr.) Lal Dena,Hmar Folk Tales, Scholar Publishing House, New Delhi, 1995