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Overview
In Rafy’s selected Khasi telling, U Thlen is born to Ka Kma Kharai while she shelters in the Pomdoloi cave with her maternal uncle, described as a dragon or Yak Jakor. Her son has a snake’s form and feeds on human blood. Unlike his shapeshifting mother, he can assume no form other than a snake, but changes size from a threadlike creature to a monster large enough to swallow a person. The author’s label snake-vampire describes this particular predatory being rather than making him a European undead corpse.
U Thlen, his mother and her uncle prey on travelers going to the fair of the Bleis. A council restricts the number of captives they may devour to half, but the rule fails to end the suffering. With the sanction of U ’Lei Shillong, the forest demon U Suidnoh feeds the serpent pigs and goats through a hole in the cave roof, disguising them as the expected human tribute. Assisted by the giant U Ramhah, he finally substitutes red-hot iron. U Thlen’s violent death convulsions make both helpers faint, but they revive and find him dead.
The victors divide and eat his body, intending to destroy what remains. One woman secretly saves a piece for her absent son. When they uncover it at home, they find a tiny living snake which speaks and identifies itself as U Thlen restored to life. Promising wealth, he obtains shelter, then threatens the family and demands human victims. The narrative eventually describes his mysterious multiplication into many concealed Thlens. The rebirth from retained flesh is therefore essential to the ending; the cave victory is not his final extinction.
Rafy surrounds this legend with accusations of kidnapping and sacrifice against reputed human devotees. Those allegations and her sweeping moral judgments are evidence of the 1920 book’s framing, not independently verified crimes or a description of present Khasi families. Her foreword explicitly says she chose among sometimes conflicting versions. The profile consequently records one mediated account, without asserting that every Khasi tradition gives U Thlen this biography.
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.
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. Rafy surrounds this legend with accusations of kidnapping and sacrifice against reputed human devotees. Those allegations and her sweeping moral judgments are evidence of the 1920 book’s framing, not independently verified crimes or a description of present Khasi families. Her foreword explicitly says she chose among sometimes conflicting versions. The profile consequently records one mediated account, without asserting that every Khasi tradition gives U Thlen this biography.
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.