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Overview
Ka Kma Kharai is the daughter of U Mawlong Siem in Rafy’s U Thlen narrative. The text explains her name as one who roams in trenches or hidden places and says that she can take any form she wishes. She often appears as a woman and mingles with humans undetected. When her father forbids marriage to the god of Umwai, whom she favors, she rebels and entertains other suitors. The account does not identify which suitor fathers her child.
Pregnant and fearing her father, she seeks protection with her maternal uncle, a dragon or Yak Jakor in the Pomdoloi cave. There she bears U Thlen, whose transformations are more limited than hers: he retains a snake’s form while changing size. Later she approaches travelers as a woman selling brilliant jewelry. Some are captured for the predators; others are recruited with promises of wealth and protection.
To the recruits she gives the Yngkuid Ring, also called Sati Yngkuid in this edition. Its power to fulfill desires remains dormant until its owner supplies U Thlen with victims. The narrative follows her son’s death and return but does not supply her own final fate. She is not merged with the human woman who saves a fragment of his flesh after the feast. These episodes belong to Rafy’s selected version; the associated accusations about actual families remain unverified historical rhetoric.
Origins & earliest records
Khasi tale selected and presented in English by Mrs. Rafy
Records & interpretation
Complete named chapters, title page and foreword read.
Selected bibliography
Documented works and useful reading. This is not a list of every appearance.
- 01
Folk-Tales of the Khasis
XII, U Thlen, the Snake-Vampire, pp.58–67; Macmillan, London
Family, evolution & connections
U Thlen’s maternal line — Rafy XII
Named parentage, pp. 59–60.
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- U Mawlong Siem
Literal parent–child links only. Thlen’s father is unidentified. Umwai’s courtship does not establish paternity. Suidnoh’s “uncle” address is a disguise, not kinship. The unnamed maternal uncle is omitted.
U Thlen
Ka Kma Kharai is explicitly U Thlen’s mother (p. 60). His father is unidentified.
Primary records and illustrations
Mrs. Rafy, Folk-Tales of the Khasis (1920)
English collection. XII, U Thlen, the Snake-Vampire, pp.58–67
Complete relevant chapters and foreword read. To the recruits she gives the Yngkuid Ring, also called Sati Yngkuid in this edition. Its power to fulfill desires remains dormant until its owner supplies U Thlen with victims. The narrative follows her son’s death and return but does not supply her own final fate. She is not merged with the human woman who saves a fragment of his flesh after the feast. These episodes belong to Rafy’s selected version; the associated accusations about actual families remain unverified historical rhetoric.
References
Sources supporting this profile. Linked pages have their own scope and editorial standards.
- Historical English folklore collectionRafy, Folk-Tales of the Khasis, XII, U Thlen, the Snake-Vampire, pp.58–67Research access: 2026-10-05
Image credits
A sourced illustration has not yet been added. This gap is included in the coverage record.