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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[AUGUST, 1877.
eldest, Járathong Yamba, afterwards became my friend, although you have nine wives, have king, and the second, Chingkhutol Haiba, was no child; therefore take my children, Khamnu Jubraja.
and Khamba, for your own, and also take all King Jarathong Yâmba, deeming that Po- my clothes, turban, dao, spear, hunting dress, war relba had become famous by having killed the dress, necklaces and ornaments, and if you hear tigers, gave him his own wife, Gnângko Reima of any one ill-treating my children protect them Yareltom Pokpi, and he married her and begot like a father; and do you, my friend Choaba, a daughter called Khamnu and a son called acting like a mother, protect their land and Khamba. As the king of Moirang had a great wood, and guard them should any one make liking for Parelba, he gave him the lands of them slaves or seize their cattle; and do you, Nongtholba, Lonoirakpa, and Khada Halba, and Thonglel, be a father to them." With these also the salt well at Tarbung and the Någå words Parelba died. villages of Laisang and Khâram Lairel; he also 1 After this Khamba gradually began to sit received a tribute of pepper from the Nâgas. and walk, and when Khamnu was old enough Purelba had formed a friendship with Thonglel to nurse her little brother her mother died, and Athoba, Nongbal Chouba Asingba, and Kabui Thonglel and Choubs came and burnt her body, Sâlâng Maiba Kharingnang Chamba. When and Thonglel said to Khamnu and Khamba, Khamba was born his three friends told him "My children, come to my house and I will be that it would be well to go to the king and ask your father; you have none else left to care for him to give the child a name. The king told you." But Khamna refused to leave her father's them to wait a little, and after some considera- house, and Thonglel then told her that her tion came back and said, "As I have made you father on his deathbed had entrusted all his wait, let us call your son Khamba."* The property to him; and, as it would be spoiled if father was pleased with it, and gave a chei, i.e. it remained there, he took it all away with him. two tolás, of gold.
When he reached home he said to his wife, Now the king Járathong Yamba and the Thungselbi, “In case I die, fall ill, or forget it, Jubraja Chingkhatol Haiba had no children, you remember that this property all belongs to although the king had fifteen wives and the my friend Parelba and his wife." But afterJabraja eleven, so they went and worshipped wards, through the miraculous power of a god, the god Thangjing, but still the king had no he forgot all about it, and so did the children. child. However, Langmailing Thojamu Sang- In the meantime Khamnu used to support her nanil Khurambi, the first wife of the Jubraja, little brother by begging. bore daughter. The king was very much One duy, by the mercy of God, Khamnu pleased, and said, “As I have no child, this went to beg at the house of Ningolâ kpa of daughter of my brother's will be celebrated Moirang, and it happened that Thoibî had come above all others : let us therefore call her Thoibi there to play at káng,t and was eating with (i.e. 'famous').
the other ladies of the royal family. When One day after this, as Purelba was returning Khamnu came up, the servant at the door would from the palace he fell ill, and called his two not let her enter, saying that the ladies were at friends Thonglel and Chonba, and said to them, dinner ; but just at that moment Thoibì came "My friends, I am very ill and about to die, out to bathe, and seeing Khamnu asked who therefore I wish to speak to you. My friend she was. Khamnu replied that she had come Chouba, you have a son, Phairoichåmba to beg, and that her name was Khamnu, and Selungbahal, and I have a daughter, Khamnu; she was the daughter of a Kumal.f Thoibi felt do you therefore make her your daughter and pity for her, and asked her where she lived, and marry her to your son." So saying he called why she came to beg, and whether she had no the child and gave her away; she was then five father, mother, or brother. Khamnu said she years old. Then he said to Thonglel, “ You, had no father or mother, but supported one
The Manipari word khamba means 'to restrain, to in a row. It is principally played by the Manipuri women. make to stop."
I The Manipurls are said to be derived from four tribes + This is a rome something like skittles on a small scale. -Moirang, Luang, Kamal, and Meithei ; they have now all The kang is the need of a large kind of creeper called gila in Assumed the name Meithei, which tribe seems to have conBengal; it is propelled by the finger at a number of pins set quered the rest.
