|| An Indian Khasi folklore ||
Sophet Bneng is a bare dome-like hill, about thirteen miles to the north of Shillong, and not far from the Shillong-Guwahati highroad to the East, from which it is plainly visible. Its name signifies the centre of heaven.
Long long ago, at the time of the creation of the world, a tree grew on top of this hill. It was a magnificiently tall tree, reaching to the sky. It was used by the heavenly beings as a ladder to ascend and descend between heaven and earth.
At that time the earth was uninhabited. There were no humans or creatures, but all manner of trees and flowers grew in abundance, so that it was a very beautiful and desirable place. All heavenly inhabitants frequently came down to roam and to take their pleasure upon it.
When they found that the land in the neighbourhood of Sophet Bneng was fertile and good, they began to cultivate it for profit. But they never stayed overnight on the earth. They ascended to heaven, according to the rule.
Altogether sixteen families followed the pastime of cultivating the land upon the earth.
Among the heavenly beings there was one who greatly wanted more power. He was unwilling to remain the subject of his Creator, and aspired to rule over his brethren. He was constantly seeking for opportunities whereby to realise his ambitions.
One day it happened that seven families of the cultivators chose to descend to the earth, the other nine remaining in heaven that day.
When they were busy at work in their fields, the ambitious one silently left the others, and, taking his axe secretly, he cut down the tree of communication, so that the seven families could not return to their heavenly home.
Without the tree to act as the ladder, they were all left to remain on earth.
Thus it was that mankind came to live on the earth, and it is from these seven families—called by the Khasis “Ki Hinniew Skum” (the seven nests, or the seven roots, or seven continents)—who descended from heaven on that fatal day that all the nations of the earth have sprung.
As for the ambitious one, it didn’t work as intended. His act caused different families (ultimately, different nations) also to be ambitious.
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