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Translation (Rita Seng Mai)
In the past, a lot of snow used to fall in the Mali Hka and Mali Hku areas where people lived. Due to heavy snow, many people were dying. The weather was severely cold, so many people died. Heavy snow struck the houses, and they collapsed. The collapsing houses crushed the people inside, leading to their deaths. It usually happened in the past. One day, an old man was thinking about how snow formed. He thought, "Our elders said that snow didn't form by itself. They said an old nat spirit called Sinlap made the snow. (Sinlap is a kind of high-ranking nat spirit to whom cows and buffaloes are offered.) I have heard that kind of story. No one had ever tried to ask him for a favor to reduce the amount of snow falling in these areas. Because the weather is too cold, it is difficult to work. If there is rain and sunlight, we can work more. I have heard the elders say that before." His house was very small and nearly collapsed under the heavy snow. It was difficult for him to make a living, too. It was difficult even to visit the neighbors. Then he called his three daughters and said, "Three of you, go to the Sinlap nat. Ask him for a favor to reduce the snowfall and strong wind. Request him to give us more sunny days in these regions. Our elders said that we could ask that nat for a favor. Three of you, listen to me carefully. To reach Sinlap, the nat spirit who makes the snow fall, you will have to lift this knife along the way. You will see the path that leads to her. No matter how cold it is or how tired you feel, you must not lower your hands. You must not lower your hands, even if you are hungry. No matter what, you must keep them raised. If you lower your hands, you will lose the way. When you are close to Sinlap, the nat, you will see the Mu Nbawng Ban bird, which has a bright red comb. That bird will come to you when you get close to the nat. It might sit on your head, shoulder, or hand. It will sit on any part of your body it wants. But don't get scared. You just say, 'Grateful Bird, show me where the Sinlap nat spirit lives.' If you say that, it will fly to him. Then you just need to follow it. Soon, you will reach the house where the nat spirit lives. Don't touch anything in that house, whether there are people there or not. Don't say a word before the owner speaks. When the Sinlap nat asks you, you say, 'We have heavy snow in the Mali Hku area. It's difficult for us to work. Many people are dying because of the severe cold and starvation. Many people die because the houses collapse on them. We are in trouble. Please, help us. Please don't make it snow too much.' Ask him for a favor." He turned to his eldest daughter, Ma Hkawn, and said, "You are the eldest sister. You go first. Don't lower this knife. If you lower it, you won't see the path." Then she started her journey. When she was close to the nat, the bird with a red comb flew to her and rested on her shoulder. She got scared and shook her shoulder to drive it away. She didn't speak nicely to the bird either. Then the bird flew wherever it pleased. She followed where the bird was flying, and as a result, she lost her way and later died. Meanwhile, the old father waited for his eldest daughter to return. He said, "Now, the wind is getting stronger, and the snow is falling more heavily. My daughter Hkawn might do something against what I had said. That's why we haven't heard anything back. Ma Lu, go there. Do exactly what I say." She lifted the knife and went to the Sinlap nat. When she got close to where the Sinlap nat lived, the bird flew to her and perched on her hand. She said, "My grateful bird, where is the Sinlap nat's place? Show me, please." Then it flew off somewhere. She followed it and soon arrived at a house. When she walked into the house, she saw no one there. Since she was hungry, she walked into the kitchen. She saw many kinds of food being prepared on a dining table. She ate it. After she had finished eating, the Sinlap nat appeared. He came back home hungry, too. He said angrily, "You ate all my food without my permission!" And he killed her. The snow kept falling even more heavily. The father said, "Ma Lu didn't do exactly as I said. That's why she doesn't come back. Ma Roi, you go there." Ma Roi went there and did exactly as her father said. When she got close to the place where the Sinlap nat lived, the bird flew to her and rested on her shoulder. She said, "My grateful bird, show me where the Sinlap nat lives." She followed where the bird flew, and soon arrived at the house where the nat lived. The door was open. She remembered what her father had said: "Don't go inside if no one is there. Don't touch anything. Don't speak unless you are asked." She kept her father's words in mind. When there was someone, she walked into the house. An old Sinlap nat woman with gray hair was sitting inside the house. Ma Roi said to her, "My father sent me here to ask the old Sinlap nat to reduce the snowfall. I am here to request him." The old woman said, "I know you must be hungry. Cook the meal first." When the meal was ready, the old Sinlap nat arrived. He said, "I won't ask you why you came here. Let's talk about it after we finish our meal." After they finished eating, the Sinlap nat asked Mali Hku Roi Ja why she had come to him. She explained, "I came here because of the heavy snow in my region. Can you please reduce the snowfall? It's difficult for people to work. Many people are dying because of the snow. Many houses are collapsing, and people cannot work. As a result, we are facing starvation." The Sinlap nat only said, "Girl, give this leftover to the old woman from that house." Since she was just a guest, she didn't know where the old woman's house was. She walked outside carrying the leftover food and stood there. The same bird flew to her and rested on her shoulder again. She said to it, "Show me the old lady's house, please." The bird flew toward that house, and she followed it. Soon, she found the house and went into it. The old lady asked her, "Why did you come here?" Ma Roi answered, "I came here to give you this food." The old lady was so happy. She ate the food happily and with delight. When Ma Roi went outside, the lady said, "Wait here a moment. Take the plates back with you. I will give you a gift in return." Roi Ja waited there to receive the gift. The old woman gave her a needle and thread. Roi Ja didn't know where to use them. But she took them and went back to the Sinlap nat. The Sinlap nat pulled the animal skin and said to Roi Ja, "I am so cold. Sew a garment for me using this animal skin. Make something suitable I can wear to the ceremonies." Roi Ja took the skin, but she didn't know how to make a garment. She was just standing there, holding it. At that time, the old woman to whom she had given food came to her and asked, "Why are you standing there?" Roi Ja said, "The old man who owns this house asked me to make a garment suitable for the ceremonies for him by using this animal skin. He said he needed the garment by tomorrow." The old lady went to the rear of the house and shouted, "Hey! Young girls and servants of this house, please come out. Come out and bring scissors, needles, and thread." Then, about six young girls came out of the house. The old lady said to them, "Cut the animal skin that this girl is holding. The Sinlap nat wants a garment made from this skin. Make it very beautiful. We need to finish making it by today. He wants to wear it tomorrow." That night, they finished sewing the garment. The next morning, the Sinlap nat wore the cloth and felt very pleased. He said, "I am the one who makes the snow fall and the wind blow. Be my wife. You must continue doing the things I am doing now in the future. Now you can control how much snow falls in the upper region." Mali Hku Roi Ja lived with him. Since then, there has not been much snow in the Mali Hku region. People can work and do business more comfortably since that day. Mali Hku Roi Ja saved the people from the upper river area.
Transcription (Htu Bu)
Moi gaw ndai Mali hka, Mali Hku ngu ai shara ndai de e, Masha nga ai kahtawng hkan e mung, bum shagawng hkan e mung, hkyen grai hkat ai da. Hkyen grai hkrat ai majaw, ndai kaw si hpang gara na si ai masha mung grai nga sai da. Nau katsi ai majaw sai ge nna si ai masha ma grai nga sai. Bai nna hkyen ni kamyet tawn na nta daw nna si ai mung grai nga sai da. Moi prat kaw na dai hku byin ma ai da. Lami mi hta na gaw dingla langai mi gaw shi myit yu ai. Shi yu myit yu ai moi kaw na masha ni tsun ai, Ndai, ndai hkyen ndai gaw, shi hkrai byin ai n re. Anat dingla wa, Sinlap ngu ai anat dingla wa e shabyin dat ai re nga, ndai maumwi na yu ai. Ndai hpe kadai mung n sa tawngban ya lu lu rai. Ndai hpe sa tawngban jang, ndai, ndai hkyen ndai ni gaw hkrat ai shadang yawm mat wa na, nau n katsi na, jan marang hkrak ai hku na galaw lu galaw sha lu na re, nga ndai hpe chye ai. Moi na salang ni htet tawn da ai ga ndai na ai. Ya raitim mung shanhte gaw ndai dingla wa shanhte nta kaji sha re, hkyen nau htat nna, nta mung daw wa na tai sai, shat lusha tam lu tam sha na mung yak ai. Htingbu htingpyen hkawm na matu mung grai jam jau ai majaw, shi lu ai shayi sha marai masum hpe shaga ai. "Gai nanhte, nan nau ni marai masum ra hte na oh.. Sinlap nat kaw sa nna, ndai anhte Mali Hku, ndai ginra de e, ndai nbung laru, hkyen nbung laru n jahkrat na matu hkyen nau n htat na matu, ndai jahtoi kau ya na matu, sa tawngban mu, sa tawngban yang mai ai da. Moi na salang ni tsun tawn da ai. Ya ngai ningwa tsun ai shaloi atsawm sha madat la mu. Ndai Sinlap nat ndai kaw e, hkyen jahkrat dat dat re, nat Sinlap ndai kaw sa lu na matu gaw, ndai nhtu hpe e, ning rai na, sharawt lang na sa a.i Dai shaloi gaw masha lai na lam ding yang hku mat wa na re. Dai hku sa, kade kashung kade ta kade gying ai raitim, N mai jahkrat ai ndai n mai jahkrat ai. Kaw si tim hkum jahkrat, kashung tim dai hkan e hkyen kade bum ya tim hkum jahkrat. Ndai hku hkawm, ndai jahkrat jang lam mat mat na re. Dai langai. Dai Sinlap nat nga ai shara kaw du jang, Mu Nbawng Ban ngu ai jawban ahkyeng re U langai mi nga ai. Dai wa Sinlap nat nga ai makau de du jang dai wa shawng sa na ra ai. Dai U dai gaw baw kaw sa dung na kun, lata kaw kun, kahpa kaw kun, na ahkum kaw e, shi dung mayu ai shara kaw sa dung na re. Hkum hkrit, atsawm tsun u. "E, chyeju madu e, U e, Sinlap nat nga ai nta naw sa madun ya rit law." ngu na dai hku tsun jang, Shi pyen mat wa ai de mi hkan nang, dai hku hkan nang sa i nga jang e, nta kaw du na ra ai. Dai nta kaw du ai shaloi, masha mi nga, n nga nga, dai nta hte seng ai arung arai hpa mung hkum sa hta jum, Nta madu ni sha n shaga yang shaga ma hkum shaga, rai mu. Nta madu ni san jang, Sinlap nat hpe e tsun u, 'Ndai anhte Mali Hku Majoi de e, ahkyen nau htat ai. Galaw lu galaw sha n mai ai. Kashung na si ai masha law ai. Kaw si nna si ai masha law ai. Nta daw kamyet nna si ai masha grai law ai. Ndai zawn rai jam jau nga ga ai. Nang naw hkye la mi. Ahkyen nau hkum jahtu ya.' ngu na sa tawngban mu." ngu na tsun dat ai. Dai shaloi gaw kana jan ma Hkawn ngu na hpe shawng tsun dat ai. "Gai, nang shawng, nang kana re nang shawng sa u. Ndai nhtu hkum jahkrat re lu. Ndai jahkrat dat jang alam n mu mat na ra ai." ngu. Sa wa sai da. Dai hku sa mat wa re shaloi gaw kaja wa, nat dingla nga ai makau kaw sa du ai shaloi, dai jawban ahkyeng re U langai, gaw pyen hkrat na kahpa kaw, kahpa kaw e sa dung ai da. Shi kajawng na kalang ta ahpre jahkrat kau dat ai da. Rai jang gaw ndai U hpe atsawm n tsun ai re nga yang, dai U dai mung shi ra ai de mi pyen mat wa jang gaw, dai U pyen mat wa ai de hkan hkan hkan re nga jang gaw sa dam si mat sai da. Nta kaw nga ai dingla wa gaw, la taw nga ai. "Ga.. ya nbung laru mung grau ja, hkyen mung grau htat wa re gaw, ndai nye kasha ma Hkawn gaw ngai tsun dat ai ga, lama lama gaw shi shut sai. Dai majaw hpa shi n na ai she rai na sai. Ya gaw ma Lu bai sa su. Dai wa tsun ai hte maren dai hku sa galaw u." ngu tsun ai da. Kaja wa nhtu dai hku shachyen lang na sa. Sinlap nat nga ai kaw du jang U langai mi shi lata kaw sa pyen dung ai hpe shi gaw tsun ai, "E, chyeju madu U e, Sinlap nat nga ai shara gara kaw re ai kun law. Naw madun ya rit ngu jang dai U dai gaw pyen mat wa ai. Pyen mat wa ai de hkan nang, hkan sa yu yang nta langai mi nga taw nga. Dai kaw shang wa ai shaloi gaw, masha kadai mung gaw n nga, kadai mung gaw n nga. Shi mung grai kaw si ai re nga yang shi shat gawk de sa yu yang gaw shat grai hkrak hkra hkyen tawn da ai, shat sapoi nga taw nga ai. Nau kaw si nna she shi dai sha, sha ngut ai hte Sinlap nat pru wa ai da. Pru wa na she, Sinlap nat mung grai kaw si na wa. "Nang nye ahkaw ahkang n lu ai, nye shat shang sha kau ya ai!" ngu na dai kaw adup sat kau ai da. Adup sat kau ai hpang e mung ndai hkyen marang gaw htu tik tik grau she kaba wa, grau she kaba wa rai. Kawa bai tsun ai da, "Ma Lu mung ngai tsun dat ai ga n hkan sai. Dai majaw na ai rai na re. Ma Roi nang bai sa u." bai ngu. Sa ai shaloi gaw, dai kawa tsun ai hte maren sa mat wa. Sinlap nat nta makau mayang de du ai shaloi gaw, U bai sa ai. Sa dung ai shaloi tsun ai, "E, chyeju madu U e, Sinlap nat nga ai shara madun ya rit." nga dai hku tsun ai shaloi, dai U pyen mat wa de bai hkan nang yang gaw ani sha kaw, Sinlap nat wa nga ai nta kaw du bang wa sai da. Chyinghka hpaw nga ai rai, kawa gaw, "Kadai n nga jang nhku hkum shang. Arai hpa mung hkum lang. N san yang hpa mung hkum tsun." ngu dat ai. Ma Roi gaw galoi mung dai myit dum nga. Masha nga ai re majaw shi shang wa ai shaloi dai kaw, Sinlap nat n'gai jan baw ahpraw re, langai mi nga taw nga. Dai wa hpe tsun ai da. "Ya ngai gaw, wa, ndai hkyen nau htat ai majaw, hkyen nau n htu na matu ndai nat dingla hpe ndai aji du hpe e sa tawngban na matu sa ai re." ngu na tsun ai. "Ga, nang kade kaw si tim shat naw shadu u." ngu da. "Shat naw shadu u." ngu na, shat shadu shangun. Shat hkut ai hte dai nat Sinlap dingla du wa sai. Dai shaloi, du wa ai shaloi gaw, "Hpa rai na sa ai? Kaning rai na sa ai? n san sai. Ya shat sha ngut ai hpang e she tsun ga. Ngai mung grai kaw si sai re majaw." ngu na. Shat shadu sha ngut re shaloi she, Sinlap wa gaw dai Mali Hku Roi Ja hpe san ai, "Dai hku dai hku rai na sa ai re. Hkyen nau hkrat ai majaw wa tsun dat ai, ahkyen loi mi shayawm kau na da. Hkai lu hkai sha yak. Shinggyim masha ni grai si jawng mat wa sai. Nau kashung ai majaw, kaw si ai majaw, nta daw ai majaw." ngu na tsun ai shaloi gaw, "Ma e, ya ndai an sha ngam ai shat ndai hpe le ra nta kaw na gumgai jan hpe sa jaw su." ngu na tsun ai da. Manam du, manam kasha she re nga yang gaw, shat si mai gaw hpai pru wa na, shinggan kaw du jang gaw gara de sa wa ai baw re mung n chye. Majoi sa tsap nga ai shaloi gaw, mi na U dai wa shi kaw bai sa dung. Jang gaw, "E, U e, oh ra kaw na gumgai jan a nta naw sa madun rit law." ngu na tsun jang, U pyen mat wa ai de hkan nang yang gaw ani sha gumgai jan kaw bai shang nna she, n'gai jan gaw, "Hpa rai sa wa n'ni?" ngu tsun ai shaloi, "Ndai dwi hpe e, ndai shat lusha jaw sha na matu sa ai re." ngu jang, gumgai jan grai kabu ai da. Grai kabu nna shat dai hkap sha la. Shat sha ngut jang gaw dai num sha mung shinggan de du mat wa ai shaloi, gumgai jan gaw, "Chyahkring mi naw hkring yu u. Dai nang la sa ai, hka wan mung naw la dat yu u. Nang hpe mung kumhpa lama mi jaw dat de ga." nga ai majaw, Roi Ja gaw dai hku la nga ai shaloi, hpa n re da. Ari hte shamit jaw dat ai da. Hpa di baw re mung n chye. Dai lang mat wa sai da. Dai lang nna wa re shaloi gaw, ndai Sinlap dingla wa gaw, shan hpyi langai mi garawt pru wa na, ndai hpe zen, grai htuk hkra zen nna, "Shan hpyi palawng, ngai mung grai kashung ai shan hpyi palawng langai mi chywi ya rit. Poi shingra hkan e, hpun mai ai baw palawng chywi ya rit." ngu ai da. Dai Roi Ja dai mung shan hpyi dai gaw la lang tawn da na, gara hku chywi na re mung n chye. Majoi mi la jum nna tsap nga sai da. Dai shaloi gaw mi shi shat sa jaw ai gumgai jan bai sa wa ai. "Hpa baw rai na tsap nga n'ni?" ngu san ai shaloi, "Ndai nta madu wa gaw ndai shan hpyi zen di nna e, palawng grai tsawm ai, poi shingra hkan e hpun mai ai baw palawng chywi ya rit nga na tsun ai law. Hpawtde shi palawng ndai ra ai da." nga jang, ndai gumgai jan mi kawn nga ai gumgai jan gaw nbang de pru nna, "Oi.. ndai nta na ali ama ni, hkawn zet hkawn tsawm ni e, naw pru wa yu marit." ngu "Sa wa marit law. Zen dau la lang, ri, samit la lang rai na sa wa marit law." ngu na jahtau dat jang, mahkawn kasha mali, manga, kru yan pru wa ai da. Gumgai jan gaw tsun ai, "Ndai ma lang ai shan hpyi, ndai hpe e zen nna, ndai Sinlap nat du wa palawng ra ai da. Grai tsawm nna chywi mu. Dai na ngut ra ai da. Hpawtde shi hpun na re da." ngu na tsun ai da. Rai jang kaja wa dai shana yawng atsawm sha di nna, palawng dai chywi shangut ya sai da. Hpang jahpawt Sinlap nat du wa wa nna palawng dai sa hta hpun na gaw grai kabu mat sai da. Dai shaloi she, Sinlap nat gaw, "Ya ndai ahkyen jahkrat ai nbung laru wa shangun ai mung ngai re. Nang gaw ngai a n'rum n'tau tai nu. Hpang de gaw ngai galaw ai bungli nang galaw matu ra na re. Ndai hka hku mung de hkyen hkrat ai ndai gaw, ahkyen htat ai gaw na lata kaw sha re." ngu na dai Mali Hku Roi Ja gaw dai Sinlap wa hte nga ai, dai kaw na ndai Mali Hku ndai n'ga de e moi na ram ahkyen n taw mat ai. Galaw lu galaw sha mai mat wa ai gaw, dai shani kaw na re da. Mali Hku Roi Ja ngu ai wa, ndai Mali hka, hka hku de nga ai masha yawng hpe hkye ai gaw ndai jan rai sai da. |
