Ha ki por hyndai, haba don ka jingïakajia majia hapdeng ki arliang mamla kaba ma kaba lah ban kad ne khih ka hima ban rai ryngkew, ki ïapynhiar noh da ka ngam-um ha khmat u Syiem bad ki myntri korbar-ri baroh. Ki mamla ki sei la ki ksih bad ka liang jong uta uba kan slem, ka jop. Ym ju don shuh ka ïaphoi ïapeit pyllew khmat namar ki kheiñ ba ka long ka rai blei. Ïa kito ki briew kiba ïangam um ki khot ki ksih bad ka ju don ruh ka ïapung ïathong da ka tyngka ne ka ksiar para nongïaleh ne hapdeng ki arliang mamla bad kat uba jop u ïoh ïa ka.
In the olden days, when there was a quarrel between two parties which could lead to a dangerous situation, even to division or unrest in a kingdom, in order to reach an agreement or compromise, a competition called "Ïa Ngam Um" would be held. "Ïa Ngam Um'' was a competition where divers would hold their breath under water and the one who could hold his breath the longest would be the winner. After the winner was declared, there was no offense taken, no anger or grudge held as the result of the competition was taken as a divine resolution. The competitors were called "ksih" which is the Khasi word for otter and the ksih or two parties would bet on money or gold, which the winner would claim as his prize.
"Ïa Ngam Um" was a competition whose results ended all dispute. 🏊🏊 What a great way to end discord!
🟡 Sources: Rev. Dr. Ïarington Kharkongor and Primrose Gatphoh
🟡 English translation by @speakyourroots