The Nagas

Hill Peoples of Northeast India

Project Introduction The Naga Database

book : Return to the Naked Nagas (1939;1976)

caption: Chapter Twenty-two. Love and Poetry
caption: example of song by Oukheang morung
medium: books
ethnicgroup: Konyak
production:
person: Furer-Haimendorf
date: 6.1936-6.1937
text: Thus the men of the Oukheang morung of Wakching, whose claim that their morung is the oldest in the village seems not without foundation, sing the praise of the sons of Yana and Shayong, their legendary ancestors:
text: O, since earth, water rocks existed,
We are the sons of Yong-wem-ou-niu.
O, may the boys be healthy and strong
May they live together united.
text: O, man and tiger, the sons of brothers
They ate of the jungle pig's flesh.
text: O, as so many stars,
text: As the sun rises,
The sun in the sky,
O, Yana and Shayong's sons
So high are they in the sky.
text: O like the high trees
Like the virgin forest,
O, Yana and Shayong's sons,
Great are they on the earth.
text: O, like the lightning
Flashing through the darkness
O, where the waters meet,
At Dzei-lao stream
Like the roll of thunder.
O, like a gong resounding
So walked Yana and Shayong's sons.
text: O, Yana and Shayong's sons,
Such is their greatness and might;
O, all their off-spring
Filled the whole village.
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