TCHHÜPFU IZZÜ, Morakcho
26.091700,94.083300
Description
A necessarily sub-aquaeus but nevertheless air-filled and, perhaps, legendary »hole under the rocks in a pool« (MILLS, J P 1922: 182-183) or »grotto« (GANGULI, M 1976: 72-73) is reported from a setting inside one or several boulders beneath the waters of the river »Doyang« (MILLS, J P 1922) or »Dayang« (GANGULI, M 1976). ETYMOLOGY: Each of the rivers and streams in the world of the Lhota Nagas are said to have their »Tchhüpfu« (note 1) or »water-mother« (MILLS, J P 1922: 115-116), who is (or are) not only known to dwell at the bottom of deep pools but also renowned for using human skulls as hearth stones. One »Tchhüpfu … is believed to inhabit a pool called Tchhüpfu Izzü in the Doyang [note 2] below Morakcho« (MILLS, J P 1922). SITUATION: The village of »Morakcho« (MILLS, J P 1922) is indicated near (±1 km) 26°05'30”N: 94°06'50”E: circa (±75 m) 800 m asl (AMS sheet NG46-07 Jorhat 1963 edition) and about 500 or 600 m above the locally north-western (orographically left) bank of the »Diyung River (Tapu River)« and at linear distances of about 50 km north of Kohima (25°40'N: 94°07'E) and about 16 km west of Wokha (26°05’30”N: 94°15’20”E). CULTURAL HISTORY - legend: »Stories of the Water Spirit (Tchhüpfu) are common, and usually describe a visit paid by someone to his lair in a deep pool. The Boy and the Water Spirit: One day a boy went down to the Doyang to fish. When he did not return home in the evening his parents became very anxious, and in the morning his father took some men down to search for him; but he was nowhere to be found. Then his father was sad at heart and went wandering alone along the Doyang, determined to find at least the dead body of his son. As he went he saw a hair on the ground, and picked it up, thinking it belonged to his son. But it was so long that he picked up one end of it, and walked on winding it round and round his finger. He went on and on until he had passed eight bends of the river, so long was the hair. At last he came to a Water Spirit, for the hair was one of the Water Spirit's which he had forgotten to wind round his head. The Water Spirit cried out, "Let me go," but the man replied, "You have seized my son and taken him to your home in the water. I will not let you go till you bring him out and give him back to me." Then the Water Spirit said, "Let me go and I will bring your son and leave him here. If you don't believe me you may make me swear the most solemn oath known to men." At this the man let him go, and the Spirit gave him a gift of friendship, dried fish and fresh fish and fish paste, and said, "In the morning I will bring your son out of the water and leave him here. Come at the time when men go to their fields and you will find him." Obedient to the words of the Spirit the man came in the morning at the time when men go to their fields, and there sure enough was his son on the bank. The tale he told his father was this: "I saw a big fish in the water, and dived in and caught hold of it. It dragged me into a hole under the rocks in the pool, where there was no water. There on the dry sand was a hearth made of three human skulls. It was the lair of the Water Spirit." The Water Spirit had not hurt the boy, but had brought him out and left him on the bank, as he had promised to his father. So the father found his son safe by the side of the water and they both went back home. The tale is remembered to this day« (MILLS, J P 1922: 182-183).
NOTE 1: The sound of the word »Tchhüpfu« (MILLS, J P 1922) or »Tschuphu« (GANGULI , M 1976: 72-73) reminds me of the name of the prominent peak rising »about 15 km south of Kohima« (nagarealm.com accessed 2007.12.12), which has been referred to as the Japfu Peak DESTINATION KOHIMA (circa 2002 s.a.) Japfü Peak »… the second highest peak in Nagaland and 3048 m above sea level is about 15 km south of Kohima« (nagarealm.com accessed 2007.12.12) Japvo 25°33'N: 94°04'E MILLS, J P (1926a map opposite 292); SHAKESPEAR, L W (1929) Japvo 9890 [3014.5 m asl] AMS sheet NG46-11 Kohima (U502 series, 1956 edition) Japvo Peak N25°36': E094°06' nima.mil/geonames (accessed 16.11.2003) Japvu nima.mil/geonames (accessed 16.11.2003) Japyo 2995 India Road Atlas, Eicher Goodearth (2006: 47 F2) Mount Japve nima.mil/geonames (accessed 16.11.2003). NOTE 2: The Diyung 26°26'N: 93°57'E (known in the upper reaches as the Sidzu and even further upsteam as the Choheira) or Tapu River (not to be confused with the other Diyung 25°47'N: 92°55'E in North Cachar, a tributary to the Kopili), which joins near 26°26'N: 93°57'E and about 6 or 8 km in a direct line south of Golaghat (26°31'N: 93°58'E) the orographically right bank of the Subansiri, has been referred to as Dayang GANGULI , M (1976) Diyung AMS sheet NG46-11 Kohima (U502 series, 1956); India Road Atlas, Eicher Goodearth (2006: 30 C5, 47 F1) Diyung (Tapu River) AMS sheet NG46-07 Jorhat (U502 series, 1963)Doyang MILLS, J P (1922: 182-183).
Cavités proche
| Distance (km) | Nom | Longueur (m) | Profondeur (m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13.2 | TELOU CAVE & SPRING | ||
| 22.1 | Etchhiku | ||
| 22.1 | Etchhiku 2 | ||
| 23.1 | PHUKHUHE SUMI (Cave of) | ||
| 24.0 | NGATE LONGKI | ||
| 27.0 | SUSURO KVU, Lakhuti village | ||
| 37.2 | MONGZU KHI | ||
| 37.4 | Funzen Kih | ||
| 37.4 | Funzen Kih 2 |