The Formation Of The Earth

: Folk-tales Of The Khasis

When the earth was created, it was one great plain, full of vast

forests and smooth rivers. Then it happened that the mother of the

three goddesses, Ka Ding, Ka Um, and Ka Sngi, died while wandering

abroad one day on the earth. These goddesses are Fire, Water, and

the Sun. It became necessary for the daughters to discover some means

whereby their mother's body could be put away out of their sight and

not be left expose
on the face of the earth.



According to the decree, it was decided that Ka Sngi, being the

youngest, should perform the rites of destroying the body; so Ka Sngi

went out in all her strength, and put forth great heat till the rivers

were dried up and all the leaves of the forest and the grass withered,

but the body of the mother was not consumed. So Ka Sngi returned

to her sisters and said, "I have exhausted all my powers, but our

mother's body still lies on the face of the earth in our sight."



After this the next sister, Ka Um, undertook to perform the rites, and

she went forth with a great company of clouds, and poured incessant

rain upon the earth till the rivers and pools were all flooded, but

her mother's body was not destroyed. So Ka Um also returned to her

sisters and said, "I have exhausted all my powers, but the body of

our mother still lies on the face of the earth in our sight."



Thus it remained for the elder sister, Ka Ding, to undertake to do

the necessary rites, and she spread forth great flames which swept

over the forests and caused the earth to burn and to crumble till the

vast plain lost its contour and the body of the mother was consumed.



Ever since then the earth has remained as the fire left it, full of

mountains and valleys and gorges. It became a much more beautiful

place, and in time mankind came here from heaven to dwell.



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