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Different kinds of arrows in Khasi




"U 'nam-ïong" u dei u khnam ba don dak ïong ha ki sner jong u (An arrow with a black mark on its feathers/fletching).


"U 'namlang" u dei u khnam 'langtylli; u khnam kdait (An arrow made from a kind of reed).


"U 'namphiah" u dei u khnam shiliang sner bad bunsien la ju pyndonkam da ki khynnah (An arrow having feathers/ fletching only on one side and is mainly used by children).


"U 'namphong" u dei u jait khah uba la ju pyndonkam kum u khnam na ka bynta ban siat sim (Reed that is used as an arrow when shooting birds).


"U 'namtabla" u dei u khnam pynbúd uba dei ha ka met jong u mrad. Ïa uno uno u briew uba ïoh pynban khnam kumta bad ynda ki la ïoh ïa ka mrad ki ai ka siang tyrpeng ïa u (The arrow that triggers the pursuit of a hunt. The person who is responsible for this is prized with the shoulder blade of the animal).


"U 'namthang" u dei u khnam bym don sop ba la shu syang pynrkhiang haduh ban da eh bha tnaw. (An arrow without an arrowhead which has only been dry-roasted over a fire till it is very hard).


"U 'namtohrih" u dei u jait phlang uba long kum u khnam (a kind of grass or reed which is like an arrow and can be used as one).


"U 'nampliang" u dei u khnam sngáb; u khnam sop. U sngáb u dei u kynja jingpynwoh ha u khnam. La ju pyndonkam bunsien tang ha ka thma bad kaba siat mrad (An arrow with a bard; an arrow with an arrowhead, which is used only during wars and animal hunts).


"U 'nampur" u dei u khnam sner (A feathered arrow).


U 'namsop u dei u khnam uba ka dur jong u sop ka long kum ka khoh. La ju pyndonkam ha kaba ïa siat thong. (An arrow whose arrowhead resembles the cone-shaped "khoh". It is used during archery competitions).


"U 'namtympem" u dei uwei na ki lai tylli ki khnam ba siat na ka kpep ha ka por thang briew. Ïa uba nyngkong ki siat shaphang shatei; ïa uba ar sha sepngi bad ïa uba lai pat shathie. Kane ka rukom ka long ban beh ïa ki ksuid kiba wan thap ban pynbakla lynti ïa ka mynsiem u nongïap. (One of the three arrows shot from the funeral pyre. The first arrow is shot towards the north, the second arrow is shot towards the west and the third arrow is shot towards the south. This protects the spirit of the deceased from being led astray).




Arrows form an important part of many tribal cultures. They are used for hunting, in games and competitions and during wars. Here are different names of arrows in Khasi! ⬆️↗️➡️↘️⬇️⬅️↖️↪️↩️
🟡 Source: Rev. Dr. Ïarington Kharkongor
🟡 English translation by @speakyourroots

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