Title: The tale of Shihtomong and the enchanted wife

Language: Yimkhiung

Description: A long time ago, in the land of Yimkhiung, there lived a man named Shihtomong. He was a warrior and a very wealthy man. He took six women as his wives, each from a different tribe, and placed them in separate houses.
One day, Shihtomong decided to test the diligence of his wives. So one morning, secretly he hide an egg inside the mortar along with rice. When he observed them closely. Five of his wives didn’t bother to clean their pestle or check the rice before pounding. which resulted in the rice becoming sticky and spoiled. Only one of his wife took the time to clean her pestle and inspect the rice carefully. She discovered the hidden egg and informed her husband, Thereafter, he chose to lived with her.
Each day, when he returned home, his wife would have a feast waiting for him, complete with delicious brewed rice beer and an abundance of meat. He couldn’t help but wonder where she obtained all the food and drink, as he never brought any home himself.
Curious, one day he pretended to leave but quietly returned and observed her through a small hole. As the time approached for his usual arrival, he overheard his wife speaking to herself, saying she needed to prepare food and rice beer for her husband. To his astonishment, he watched as she dipped her fingers into a bamboo cup, and from her nails, she brewed the rice beer. Then, she scratched the palm of her hand and produced meat, setting everything out for him. Shocked by what he had seen, he entered the house, acting as though nothing unusual had happened. When his wife offered him a drink, he refused, saying he didn’t feel like drinking. At that moment, his wife revealed that she knew he had discovered her secret. That day, his wife wept bitterly, confessing that now that he had discovered her secret, she had no choice but to leave heartbroken .
As she walk by, he noticed flakes of salt falling, which in those days was a rare and precious commodity, Realizing the depth of his mistake in letting go of his beloved and blessed wife, he was consumed with regret. Without hesitation, he rushed after her, determined to bring her back
As he traced her steps, he found his wife lay lifeless by the roadside, that her head was taken by another worrier , overwhelmed with grief he spend his life regretting.

Format & Duration: 6 mins, 11 secs.
Date of Recording: 8/12/2024
Date of Upload: 16 October 2025
Performer: Hopong
Creator: Zingkhiuhli
Publisher: Tetso College, Dimapur
Note: NA

Cite this work

Zingkhiuhli     . 2025  . The tale of Shihtomong and the enchanted wife    . ( Narrated by Hopong  )  . Sovima: NEIIPA, Tetso College  . (https://neiipa.in/audio/the-tale-of-shihtomong-and-the-enchanted-wife/)  . Accessed: (18-Oct-2025)