Folk-Tales of the Khasis

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Rafy, Mrs.

Language:

English

Physical Description:

1 online resource : multiple file formats

Place of Publication:

Salt Lake City, UT : Project Gutenberg,

Summary:

"Folk-Tales of the Khasis" by Mrs. Rafy is a collection of traditional stories written in the early 20th century. This compilation captures the rich heritage and fascinating narratives of the Khasi people, an indigenous community from India, showcasing mythological themes, personal struggles, and moral lessons that reflect their cultural identity. The tales explain natural phenomena, explore themes of love and loyalty, and impart wisdom, making them engaging for readers interested in folklore and mythology. The opening of this collection features a foreword that sets the tone for the stories to follow, emphasizing their charm and the unique insights they offer into the Khasi culture. The first tale, "What Makes the Eclipse," introduces a beautiful maiden named Ka Nam who is kidnapped by a tiger but eventually finds protection in the realm of a magician after escaping her intended fate. The story unfolds with her transformation and eventual rescue, weaving together themes of beauty, danger, and the interplay between humanity and nature, while establishing the context of eclipses through the actions of gods and supernatural beings. This intricate narrative serves as a compelling gateway into the rest of the captivating tales that encapsulate the essence of Khasi lore. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Contents:

What makes the eclipse

The legend of Mount Sophet Bneng

How the peacock got his beautiful feathers

The goddess who came to live with mankind

The formation of the earth

U Raitong (the Khasi Orpheus)

The tiger and the monkeys

The legend of the Iei Tree

Hunting the Stag Lapalang

The goddesses Ka Ngot and Ka Iam

U Biskurom

U Thlen

How the dog came to live with man

The origin of betel and tobacco

The stag and the snail

The leap of Ka Likai

The shadows on the moon

U Ksuid Tynjang

What makes the lightning

The prohibited food

The cooing of the doves

How the colour of the monkey became grey

Ka Panshandi, the lazy tortoise

The idiot and the Hyndet bread

U Ramhah

How the cat came to live with man

How the fox got his white breast

How the tiger got his strength

How the goat came to live with man

How the ox came to be the servant of man

The lost book

The blessing of the mendicant.

Credits:

Produced by Jeroen Hellingman and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net/ for Project Gutenberg (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.)

Notes:

Reading ease score: 64.1 (8th & 9th grade). Neither easy nor difficult to read.

Release date is 2011-10-30