KIANG NANGBAH, Mynser (Cave of U)

Location

U Kiang Nangbah (note 1) »… was hiding himself in a cave in Mynser while recuperating from the wounds he received in the fight with the enemies. The British captured Kiang Nangbah on the December 27, 1862. He was hanged to death in Jowai in the Ïawmusiang market [note 2] on December 30, 1862« (MOHRMEN, H H 2012.10.15). SITUATION: Unknown. a) »Mynser« (note 3) is the name of a populated place at the base of the northern slopes of Meghalaya and geographically in Ri Bhoi but nowadays (early 21st century) administratively in the Karbi Anglong District (Hamren Subdivision), Assam, and (mere guesswork) possibly governed in the 1860ies by Jaintia Syiems. b) »Mynso« is the name of a populated place in the Jaintia Hills, which lies, roughly said, 10 km (or so) in a direct line NNW from Shangpung (note 4) and NE from Nongbah (note 5). Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 28/02/2016

NOTE 1: U Kiang Nongbah, the "rajah" or king (Syiem) of the Syntengs, is said to have used –> Kut Sutiang as a hideout in 1862-83. In 1860 a house tax was imposed in the Jaintia Hills and the Synteng people rose in open rebellion which was stamped out within four months. Scarcely, however, had the agitation subsided when an income tax was introduced. The total amount assessed was only Rupees 1'259 but this was enough to irritate people who had never been accustomed to pay anything but the lightest tribute to their own princes. In January 1862 a revolt began, and, though apparently crushed in four months, it broke out again, and it was not till November 1863 that the last of the leaders surrendered to the extent of the British resources (McKENZIE 1884: 241-242; IMPERIAL GAZETTEER 1907-1909, XV: 256; BAREH, H 1967: 111-233). NOTE 2: »In the seventies during our childhood days my parents owned a cloth shop at Yawmusiang market of Jowai« (MOHRMEN, H H 2012.06.12). »Adjacent to the Ïawmusiang market in between the office of the now Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council and the Office of the Deputy Commissioner Jaintia hills is a place known as Madan-Siat -thong (an archery ground) or Madan Kasari, where villagers compete with one another in the game of archery and Kyntiñ Mookhrah every market day« (MOHRMEN, H H 2012.10.15). NOTE 3: Mynser (25°55'N: 92°24'E) is indicated on AMS sheet NG46-10 Shillong (U502 series, 1959 edition) as a populated place above the banks of one Mynser Nadi, a tributary to the orographically right (northern) bank of the Um Khen (Khasi) and Barapani (Assamese) but misprinted as »Mynaer« (sic!) in the India Road Atlas, Eicher Goodearth (2006: 46 B2). NOTE 4: Shangpung 25°29'N: 92°21'E (nima.mil/geonames accessed 16.11.2003) is shown in the India Road Atlas (Eicher Goodearth 2006: 46 B3) at about halfway on the 53 km long road from Jowai (25°27'N: 92°12'E) approximately east-northeast to Garampani (26°24'N: 93°52'E). AMS sheet NG46-10 Shillong (U502 series, 1959 edition) shows Shangpung in an area where the rivers »Thangskai Nadi« and »Um Karand« meet to form the »Um Ikrem« which seems to be the same as the »Umiurem river« (BAREH, H 1967 / 1997: 169). NOTE 5: Nongbah (25°32'N: 92°16'E (nima.mil/geonames accessed 16.11.2003) Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 28/02/2016