Folk-tales of the Khasis . ffence ami difncull to appease; hence the many andcomplicated ceremonies which the Khasi religiondemands. One of the mosl familiar names in ancient lore isthat of V Ksuid Tvnjang, a deformed and lame demonwho haunted the forests and tormented mankind,and for his misdeeds had been doomed to suffer froman incurable and loathsome itching disease, which couldonly be allayed by the touch of a human hand. Alltin- stories related of this repulsive demon ate concernedwith his forbidding personality and the tortures heinflicted on the victims he captured purposely to force 92
Folk-tales of the Khasis . ffence ami difncull to appease; hence the many andcomplicated ceremonies which the Khasi religiondemands. One of the mosl familiar names in ancient lore isthat of V Ksuid Tvnjang, a deformed and lame demonwho haunted the forests and tormented mankind,and for his misdeeds had been doomed to suffer froman incurable and loathsome itching disease, which couldonly be allayed by the touch of a human hand. Alltin- stories related of this repulsive demon ate concernedwith his forbidding personality and the tortures heinflicted on the victims he captured purposely to force 92 U KSUID them to ruh his body and relieve (he terrible itchingto which he had been doomed. He used to ticklethem to death with his deformed and claw-like bandsif they tried to desist from their sickening task. To lure people into his grasp, he used to imitate t hehuman voice and to shout Kaw-hrit, Kaw-hoitf thecommon signal-cry of people who lose t heir companion:-or their way—a cry to which all humane travellers. THE REPUTED HAUNT OF U KSUID TTNJANG. quickly respond, for it is considered equivalent tomurder to ignore the signal-cry without going to therescue. In this way U Ksuid Tynjang was able tolocate the whereabouts of lonely wanderers, and thitherhe would direct his unsteady steps, skipping andhobbling through the jungle, until he came up to themand made them his captives. In those days a great fair was periodically held atthe foot of the Hills, and to this the Khasis from all over FOLK-TALK- K TIIK KIIASIS xvm the country were wont t resort, especially the younger folk, who were fond of pleasure and liked to see of fine cloths broughl there for sale. It happenedthat two young Bisters from the Hills. Ka Thei Duh. with their brother, attended one of these fairsin the company f some of their neighbours. It wastheir firsl visit to a fair, and they were so taken up withthe wonders of it that they forgot all about the time,and walked to and fro, gazin
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1920, bookpublisherlondo, bookyear1920
