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AUGUST, 1877.)
THE STORY OF KHAMBA AND THOIBI.
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told them to fetch her back, and next morning to Khamba's house. She then mounted the he sent for Kongyâmba and said to him, "To- horse and galloped him up and down, but when day my daughter Thoibî will return from she was at some little distance she galloped Tammu: do you wait for her in the road and away, and by the help of the gods, who loved try and persuade her to go to your house. If her because she had saluted them, she arrived she refuses and escapes from you, say no more safely at Khamba's house. He and his sister to me about her, for I will not give her again." Khamnu received her joyfully, and he let Kongyamba saluted gladly and went away, and Kongyamba's horse loose. his father and mother and all his relations Meanwhile Kongyâmba, tracking the footwaited in his house, expecting Thoibi to come. prints of the horse, came to the front door and Meanwhile he mounted his horse and took two saw Thoibi in the verandah, and thinking that servants with him, and waited in the road for there would certainly be a quarrel he went Thoibi to come. Now Senu, the servant of away quietly, and told his father and mother Thoibi's mother, heard the news and told Kham- how Khamba had taken Thoibî away and got ba secretly, and he told his sister Khamnu, the better of him. He said he would go next but was undecided whether he should go to day to the king and demand justice. Meanmeet her or not. Meanwhile Tamurak pa told while his family remained in the house.
Thoibì that her father had sent for her, and she Thoibi's servants brought all the things which must go home, and he gave her some silk and Tamurakpa had given her to Khamba's house, other presents.
and they all remained there that day, and word Now Thoibi, thinking Khamba would have was sent to the Jubraja that Thoibi was there. heard the news, had made him a jacket and a Next day, early in the morning, all the full suit of clothes. Before she started she put officers of Moirang assembled before the king on her ornaments and best clothes, and made to decide the dispute between Khamba and obeisance to the household god of Tamarakpa, Kongyamba ; but while it was being heard the and prayed that she might be united to her news came that a man had been killed by a lover; then she saluted Tamurakpa and his wife, tiger at Khonentâk. Then the king said to and he blessed her and told her that her wish Khamba and Kongyâmba, “This news has should be accomplished. And her friend Chang- come while we are hearing your dispute, so ning Kbombi gave her a present, and hoped she whichever of you can kill the tiger shall have might succeed in her wish. So she set out with my niece, and let God be the witness." They her father's five slaves, and met Kongyamba both agreed, and all the people were witin the road; and, as she did not love him, she nesses thereto. So the people surrounded the was sorry for it, but he was very glad, and tiger,ll and built a fence round the place where tried to persuade her to go with him by saying he was, and early the next morning the king that her father had given her to him. Thoibi and all the people went to see the sight. As pretended to be glad outwardly, and sat down Khamba was starting, Thoibi said to him, "If near him, but she put the stick which Khamba I am faithful and pure, you will certainly kill had given her between them, and thought of the tiger," and she saluted her god and reit as if it were Khamba himself, and determined mained at home. Khamba and Kongyamba, each to run away to him. At last she hit on a plan, of them taking his weapons-spear and daoand said she felt feverish. Kongyamba asked and two servants, went to the place where the how she could be cured, and she said that if tiger was. she could mount a horse and ride it till she They saluted the king, and he gave pán to perspired she would be well. So Kongyâmbaeach of them, and told them to be careful not had his horse brought, and Thoibî put the sad- to be killed, and said if one was wounded the dle on her head, and saluted it, and saluted all other was to protect him. The two friends then the gods, and prayed that they would bring her saluted the king and all the people, and went
SA town in the Kubbo valley.
Il Tigers are caught in Manipur by surrounding the jungle in which they are lying by a net, outside of which a bamboo palisade is built, the whole place being closely
surrounded by men armed with long, heavy spears; the tigers now-a-days are generally shot, but in former days it was customary to spear them.
