A sourced illustration has not yet been added. This gap is included in the coverage record.

Overview

U Suidnoh, glossed as the fleeting demon, haunts the forest of Lait-rngew north of Cherra in Rafy’s telling. People initially regard him as insignificant, but divination directs them to seek his help against U Thlen. He insists that a Blei must authorize the attack and sends them to invoke U ’Lei Shillong. Only after this sanction does he begin the rescue plan; he is not presented as the mountain deity himself.

He has a hole bored through the cave roof and passes slaughtered pigs and goats into the serpent’s mouth without exposing their identity. Mimicking a devotee, he addresses U Thlen as uncle and announces his tribute. This address is part of the deception, not an established genealogy. As the cost of the offerings becomes burdensome, he recruits the giant U Ramhah to build a smelting-house, make immense tongs and bring heated iron.

The final offering of red-hot iron kills U Thlen, whose convulsions shake the earth and make both helpers faint. They recover, verify the death and announce the victory with a drum. Rafy then attributes later honor and offerings to U Suidnoh. The same tale nevertheless continues with U Thlen’s revival from uneaten flesh, so the helper’s successful killing does not make the serpent permanently extinct. The account gives no detailed bodily anatomy for U Suidnoh.

Forest demon who defeats U Thlen by a disguised offeringSelected regional narrative
01

Origins & earliest records

Khasi tale selected and presented in English by Mrs. Rafy

02

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.

  1. 01

    Folk-Tales of the Khasis

    Mrs. Rafy (title-page credit; foreword signed K. U. R.) · 1920

    XII, U Thlen, the Snake-Vampire, pp.58–67; 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

Direct primary record

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. The final offering of red-hot iron kills U Thlen, whose convulsions shake the earth and make both helpers faint. They recover, verify the death and announce the victory with a drum. Rafy then attributes later honor and offerings to U Suidnoh. The same tale nevertheless continues with U Thlen’s revival from uneaten flesh, so the helper’s successful killing does not make the serpent permanently extinct. The account gives no detailed bodily anatomy for U Suidnoh.

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References

Sources supporting this profile. Linked pages have their own scope and editorial standards.

  1. 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.

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