A sourced illustration has not yet been added. This gap is included in the coverage record.
Overview
Rafy describes U Ksuid Tynjang as a forest demon with an unsteady gait, clawlike hands and an intolerable itch that human touch relieves. He mimics the signal cry of lost travelers to draw people within reach, then forces his captives to rub his body. If they stop, he tickles them to death. The author links his bodily afflictions to punishment for misdeeds; this moralized description belongs to the story, not to people with disabilities or skin disease.
Two sisters, Ka Thei and Ka Duh, lose their way after a fair with their younger brother and answer the false cry. The demon sees the sisters but overlooks the boy. Ka Thei hides him beneath a leaf umbrella, disguises it with shrubs and sends him home at dawn to ask their parents to sacrifice to U ’Lei Shillong. The sisters remain captive, taking turns whenever their tormentor sleeps.
When Ka Duh finds an iron axe-knife, Ka Thei interprets it as a sign of divine assistance. She heats its blade and kills the sleeping demon. He cannot resume his former demonic shape, but survives as a tough creeper that tangles hunters’ feet, harms trees and interferes with cultivation. The narrative names this plant Tynjang and makes it his enduring form. The final botanical transformation is recorded as a story explanation, not a verified species identification.
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
XVIII, U Ksuid Tynjang, pp.92–96; Macmillan, London
Family & connections
A source-supported family tree or inspiration record has not yet been compiled for this profile. Related reading below indicates a connection in subject matter, not a proven lineage or creative influence.
Primary records and illustrations
Mrs. Rafy, Folk-Tales of the Khasis (1920)
English collection. XVIII, U Ksuid Tynjang, pp.92–96
Complete relevant chapters and foreword read. When Ka Duh finds an iron axe-knife, Ka Thei interprets it as a sign of divine assistance. She heats its blade and kills the sleeping demon. He cannot resume his former demonic shape, but survives as a tough creeper that tangles hunters’ feet, harms trees and interferes with cultivation. The narrative names this plant Tynjang and makes it his enduring form. The final botanical transformation is recorded as a story explanation, not a verified species identification.
References
Sources supporting this profile. Linked pages have their own scope and editorial standards.
- Historical English folklore collectionRafy, Folk-Tales of the Khasis, XVIII, U Ksuid Tynjang, pp.92–96Research access: 2026-10-05
Image credits
A sourced illustration has not yet been added. This gap is included in the coverage record.