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The Mikirs

Chapter 31: I.
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About This Book

The volume presents a detailed ethnographic and linguistic study of the Mikir people, compiled from field notes, vocabularies, and firsthand observations. It surveys domestic life, social organization, customary law, and religious practice with particular attention to funeral ceremonies. The work preserves folk-tales in the native tongue with translations and explanatory notes, and offers a concise grammar and vocabulary, augmented by census figures, measurements, and contemporary reports to contextualize the material.

I.

CHÒNGHŌLOSŌ
FROG
ĀTOMŌ.
STORY.

Ārnī-sī
Day-one
mīsō-ròngpō
a big black ant
ā-òng
(to) his uncle
àn
rice
che-thòn-dàmlo.
to carry went.
Chònghōlosō
a frog
tovār
the way
ingnī-thīp.
sat down and blocked.
Ànsī
Then
mīsō
the ant
pulo:
said:
“Tovār
“The way
for me
pèk-thā,
leave free,
chònghōlosō;
frog;
I
nē-òng
my-uncle
àn
rice
chethòn-dàm-jī.”
carry-go-will.”
Chònghōlosō
The frog
pudèt:
answered:
“Nē-rum
“Under me
nē-lut-thòt-rā
entering (creeping)|
dàm-tē:
go your way:
pàktā
every one
nē-rum-sī
under me
dàm-hòr-lē.”
passes.”
Mīsō
The ant
pudèt:
said:
“Ne-òng
“My uncle’s
ā-àn
rice
bòr
leaf-bundle
do-kòk-lē,
being tied up,
pusī
how
nàng-rum-lē
you-underneath
nàng-kelut-thèk-jī?”
enter, creep, shall I be able?”
Ànsī
So
chònghō-tā
the frog
pèk-pē,
would not give way,
mīsō-tā
the ant
dàm-dē.
could no go.
Ànsī
So
nērlo
day
chitīm-lo.
became middle.
Ànsī
So
mīsō—“Ai,
the ant— “Oh,
nē-òng
my uncle
àn-ingchīr-sī
rice-hunger-in
āning-nē-thī-po”
angry with me will be”
pulo;
said;
chònghōlosō-ārum
the frog-under
lut-thòt-lo.
he entered, crept.
Àn-lo
Then
chònghōlosō
the frog
mīsō-āthàk
the ant-upon
ingnī-dun-chèt-lo.
sat-down-flat.
Lāsī
Thereupon
mīsō-ròngpō
the big black ant
chònghōlosō
the frog’s
ā-mī
loins
kòr-ràk.
bit-severely.
Ànsī
Then
chònghō
the frog
āning-thī-ning-thī
becoming very angry
kārlē-sārpō-ā-dòn
squirrel-big-old’s ladder
chòn-rai.
(on) jumped and broke.
Kārlē-sārpō
The big old squirrel
āningthī-ningthī
becoming very angry
hànthār-ā-kòk
gourd’s stem
ròt-pèt.
cut in two.
Hànthār
The gourd
āningthī-ningthī
becoming very angry
phàk-belèngpī ā-moi
a wild boar’s back (on)
klō-dup.
fell plump.
Phàk-belèngpī
The wild boar
āningthī-ningthī
becoming very angry
lō-bòng
a plantain-tree
thīmur-phàk.
rooted up.
Lōbòng
The plantain-tree
āningthī-ningthī
becoming very angry
vo-ārbīpī
a sparrow
ā-tār
’s nest
sàp-rai.
struck and broke.
Vo-ārbīpī
The sparrow
āningthī-ningthī
becoming very angry
ingnār
an elephant
nō-thòng-pō
deaf-big
ā-nō
’s ear
lut-thòt.
entered.
Ingnār
The elephant
nō-thòng-pō
deaf-big
āningthī-ningthī
becoming very angry
arlòng
a rock
hēlàng-phlut.
tore up suddenly.
Ārlòng
The rock
āningthī-ningthī
becoming very angry
Rēchō-
the King
ā-sō
’s son
kònglòng-pī-bup.
rolling-down killed.
Ànsī
Then
Rēchō
the King
nàng-bisār-lo:
made an enquiry:
“Màt-sī
“Who
nē-pō
my son
pithī-lòtlo?”
has killed?”
“Ai,
“Oh,
arlòng-sī
the rock
kònglòng-bup,”
rolled down on him,”
pulo.
they said.
Ànsī
Then
ārlòng
the rock
ārju-dàmlo:
he summoned to answer:
“O ārlòng,
“O rock,
ārlòng!
rock!
pī-āpòt
for what reason
nàng
you
nē-sō
my son
kònglòng-bup?”
did roll down upon?”
Ārlòng
The rock
pudèt:
said:
“Chē!
“Oh!
Hèmphū-ārnàm-rēchō,
Lord-God-King,
how
I
kònglòng-bup-bē-jī?
to roll down-not was I?
Ingnār
The elephant
nō-thòngpō-sī
big-deaf
me
hēlàng-phlut-lē
torn up suddenly having,
me
doi-phit-lo;
pushed out;
nē-kē
as for me,
nē-rī āvē,
(to) me hands are not,
nē-kèng āvē,
(to) me legs are not,
kolo-pu-sī
how then
chēr-chàk-thèk-jī?
withstand could I?
Nàng-sōpō
Your honourable son
my
kekònglòng ā-tovār
rolling down-path
dokòksī,
being-in,
I
kònglòng-bup-lo-tē.”
rolled down upon him accordingly.”

Ànsī
Then
Rēchō
the king
pulo:
said:
“Mai!
“Oh!
that
ingnār
elephant
nō-thòng-pō
deaf-big
lā-ànsèt bòn-hē”—
that so much (trouble) caused”—
pusi,
saying,
ingnār
elephant
nō-thòng-pō
deaf-big
ārju-dàm-lo.
summoned.
“O ingnār
“O elephant,
ingnār!
elephant!
kopi-āpòt
for what reason
nàng
you
ārlòng
the rock
hēlàng-phlut?”
tore up suddenly?”
Ingnār
The elephant
pudèt:
answered:
“Chē!
“Oh,
how
I
hēlàng-phlut-phlē-jī,
was to help tearing it up,
Hèmphū ārnàm?
Lord God?
Vo-ārbīpī
The sparrow
nē-nō
my ear
nē-kelut-thòt-sī,
having entered into,
nē ā-bīdī
my wits
thèk-thē-dèt-lo-lē,
having lost control of me,
lā-hēlo
therefore
I
ārlòng
the rock
hēlàng-phlut.”
tore up suddenly.

Ànsī
Then
Rēchō
the King
pudèt—“Mai!
said—“Oh!
that
vo-ārbīpī
sparrow
lā-ànpin
that so much
bòn-hē”
(trouble) caused”
pu,
saying,
ārju-dàmlo.
summoned.
“O vo-ārbīpī
“O sparrow,
voārbīpī!
sparrow!
ingnār ā-nō
elephant’s ear
kopi-āpòt
for what reason
nàng lut-thòt?”
did you enter?”
Voārbīpī
The sparrow
thàkdèt—
answered—
“Chē!
“Oh!
Hèmphū!
Lord!
how
I
lut-lē-jī?
was I not to enter?
lōbòng
the plantain-stalk
nē-tār
my nest
kesàp-rai-lē,
falling on having broken,
lā-hēlo
therefore
nē-ning
my mind
oi-òng,
being very disturbed,
I
ingnār ā-nō
elephant’s ear
lut-thòt.”
entered.”

Ànsī
Then
Rēchō
the King
pu—“Mai!
said—“Oh!
lā lōbòng
that plantain-stalk,
lāpu
it seems;
ànpin bòn-hē”—
so much (trouble) caused”—
pusi
saying
ārju-dàm-lo.
he summoned.
“O lōbòng
“O plantain,
lōbòng!
plantain!
nàng
you
kopi-āpòt
for what reason
vo-ārbīpī
the sparrow’s
ā-tār
nest
sàp-rai?”
fell upon and broke?”
Lōbòng
The plantain
pudèt—“Chē!
said—“Oh!
how
I
sàp-rai-rē-jī,
was not to fall and break,
Hèmphū
Lord|
ārnàm?
God?
Phàk-belèng-pī-sī
The wild boar
me
kāthīmur-phàk-le:
rooted me up suddenly:
I
thīmur-phàk-lo-tē
having been rooted up,
I
ingkur
root
kāve-dèt-lo-lē:
none had at all:
kopu-si
how
I
kārjàp thèk-jī-làng?
standing-up was to be able to continue?
Thàngbàk
Any
nē-rī
to me-hand
nē-kèng
to me-leg being,
lē-kedo
existing,
kālī-dèt-lē.”
not-at-all there is.”

“Mai!
“Oh!
lā phàk
that pig,
pu
it seems,
àn-pin bon-hē,”
all the (trouble) caused,”
pu
saying
Rēchō pulo.
the King said.
Ànsī phāk-āphàn
So the pig (accus.)
ārju-dàm-lo.
he summoned.
“O phàk phàk!
“O pig, pig!
pī-āpòt nàng
for what reason you
lōbòng
the plantain
thīmur-phàk”?
rooted up”?
Phàk
The pig
pudèt
answered
“Pī
“How
I
thīmur-phàk-phē-jī?
could help rooting it up?
(as) I
chōpàn-vèk,
was feeding, grazing,
mamàtsī
suddenly,
hànthār
the gourd
nē-moi
my back (on)
keklō-dàp-lē:
came tumbling down:
lā-hēlo
therefore
kesō-òng
being in great pain
I
lōbòng thīmur-phàk.”
the plantain rooted up.”

Ànsī
So
Rēchō—
the king—
“Mai!
“Oh!
hànthār
the gourd,
pu
then,
àn-pin bòn-hē”
all this (trouble) caused,”
pusi
saying
hànthār
the gourd
ārju-dàm-lo.
summoned.
“O hànthār hànthār!
“O gourd, gourd!
pī-āpòt
for what
phàk-belèng-pī
reason the wild boar
ā-moi
’s back (on)
nàng
you
klō-dup?”
fell-plump?”
“Pī
“How
I
klō-dup-dē-jī,
could help falling?
Hèmphū
Lord
Ārnàm?
God?
Kārlē-sī
The squirrel
nē-kòk
my stem (to me)
nē-keròt-pèt-lē,
having cut through,
nē-kē
I
thàngbàk
at all
nē-rī, nē-kèng
to me hand, to me foot
lē-kedo kālī-dèt,
there-not-existing,
nē-kòk
my stem,
īsī-pèt
one-only,
àn-hēlo,
so much having,
lā-lē
that if
nē ròt-pèt-lo-tē,
to me is cut through,
I
klō-nàng-po.
must necessarily fall.
Phàk-belèng-pī
The wild boar
ā-moi
’s back (on)
keklō-nàng-dup.”
falling became necessary.”

Ànsī
So
Rēchō
the King
pu-lē-lo—“Mai!
said again—“Oh!
lā kārlē
that squirrel
pu
then
àn-pin
so much
bònhē”
(trouble) caused”
pusi
saying
kārlē
the squirrel
ārju-dàm-lo.
summoned.
“O kārlē
“O squirrel,
kārlē!
squirrel!
kopī-āpòt
for what reason
nàng
did you
hànthār
the gourd
ā-kòk
’s stem
ròt-pèt?”
cut through?”
Kārlē
The squirrel
pudèt—
said—
“Chē!
“Oh,
pī nē
how I was
ròt-rē-jī,
not to cut it,
Hèmphū
Lord
Ārnàm?
God?
Chònghōlosō-sī
The frog
nē-dòn
my ladder
chòn-rai-lē.
(on) jumping broke.
Lāsī
Therefore
to me
tovār
a road
āvē-dèt-lo:
did not remain:
I
hànthār
the gourd ‘s
ā-kòk
stem
ròt-pèt.”
had to cut.”

Rēchō
The King
pudèt—
said—
“Mai!
“Oh!
lā chònghō
that frog,
lā-pu
it seems,
àn-pin
so much (trouble)
bòn-hē”
caused”
pusi
saying
ārju-dàm-lo.
he summoned.
“O chònghōlosō
“O frog,
chònghōlosō!
frog!
kopī-āpòt
for what reason
nàng
you
kārlē ā-dòn
the squirrel’s ladder
chòn-rai?”
jumping on broke?”
Chònghō
The frog
thàkdèt—
answered—
“Pī
“How
I
chòn-rai-rē-jī?
was to help jumping on and breaking?
Mīsō-ròng-pō-sī
The big black ant
nē-mī
my loins,
nē-kē
even me,
kòr-ràk-lē:
bit hard:
lā kesō-òng-sī
that pain-great-from
I
kārlē-ādòn-bō-pō
squirrel’s ladder (honorific)
I
chini-nē-dèt-si chòn-rai-tē.”
not knowingly jumped upon and broke.”

Rēchō
The King
pu-lē-lo—
said again—
“Mai!
“Oh!
mīsō
the ant,
pu
then,
àn-pin
caused all the
bòn-hē”
trouble”
pusi
saying
ārju-dàm-lo.
summoned.
“O mīsō
“O ant,
mīsō!
ant!
pī-āpòt
what-for
nàng
did you
chònghōlosō-ā-mī
the frog’s loins
kòr-ràk?”
bite severely?”
Mīsō
The ant
pudèt—
said—
“Pī
“How
I
kòr-ràk-rē-jī?
was to help biting him?
Ādàp
In the morning
nē-òng
to my uncle
àn
rice
che-thòn-dàm-lo:
I was going along carrying:
Chònghō
the frog
tovār
the road
ingnī-thīp.
sitting down blocked.
Lā-lo
Thereupon
I
‘tovār
‘road
to me
pèk-thā’
free-leave’
pulo:
said:
‘nē-rum-lē lut-nòn’
‘me underneath creep’
pu.
he said.
I
lut-thòt-lo:
crept under him:
chònghō
the frog
nē-thàk nē ingnī-thīp;
on the top of me sat down tight;
lāsī
therefore
I
ā-mī
his loins
kòr-ràk.”
bit-severely.”

Ànsī
Then
Rēchō
the King
pulo—“Nàng
said—“You
bàng-hīnī
persons-two
kelèt-dèt.”
guilty-are.”
Mīsō-kē
The ant
chujèng-pèn
hair of head-with
kòk-chèk-lo:
they tied-firmly:
nòn
now
ā-vàm chèng-jàn.
his-waist is very slender.
Chònghō-ke
The frog
tārmē-làng-bòng-pèn
a blistering creeper-with
sàp-phràt-phràt;
they soundly thrashed;
lāsī
therefore
nòn
now
phròk-se-nòk-tòk.
he is speckled all over.