Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 20, 1909.djvu/468

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Folk-Tales of the Lushais and their Neighbours.

the water again, and directly he struggled they tugged him up quickly, but the water demon snapped off his head."^[1]

The Story of Tlumtea and his Brothers.—"Tlumtea's brothers were going to court the Vanchung Maid. "We are going to court the Vanchung Maid," they said, —"Which of us is the best?" Then the people replied,—"That one in front, Tlumtea," they said. Then his elder brothers said,—"Tlumtea, you are an obstacle to our success; go in the middle," said they.^[2] So he went in the middle. "We are going to court the Vanchung Maid. Which is the best?" they said again. And the people said,—"The one in the middle, Tlumtea." Then his elder brothers said,—"Tlumtea, you are an obstacle to our success; go last of all!" they said again, and he went. Then the elder brothers said again, —"We are going to court the Vanchung Maid. Which of us is the best?" And the people,—"The last one, Tlumtea," they said again. Then his elder brothers said, —"Tlumtea, you are an obstacle to our success; go back again." So he turned back. Then the elder brothers arrived at the Vanchung Maid's house, and the Vanchung Maid called,—"My father, please come, we have visitors," said she. Her father replied,—"Good visitors or bad visitors?", said he, and she,—"Bad visitors," said she. Then her father,—"Put the cane rings in which the pots stand round their necks, and wrap up some of the rice, out of which zu has been

↑ The Ai plant is supposed to have magical properties. The Khuangchoi is the last of a series of feasts, by giving which the Lushai attains to a proud position here below, and hopes to be able to cross the Pial river, to the realms of bliss, when he dies.
↑ You must remember that in the Lushai hills there are, or were till a few years ago, only footpaths, so that, from long walking on such narrow ways, the habit of walking in single file has so taken possession of the people that it is difficult to get them to walk in other formation. When I took some to Calcutta, wherever we went they followed me about like an absurd string of geese.

[1] The Ai plant is supposed to have magical properties. The Khuangchoi is the last of a series of feasts, by giving which the Lushai attains to a proud position here below, and hopes to be able to cross the Pial river, to the realms of bliss, when he dies.

[2] You must remember that in the Lushai hills there are, or were till a few years ago, only footpaths, so that, from long walking on such narrow ways, the habit of walking in single file has so taken possession of the people that it is difficult to get them to walk in other formation. When I took some to Calcutta, wherever we went they followed me about like an absurd string of geese.

[1]

[2]