Old-Kuki Sub-group by Linguistic Survey Of India in 1904

Yangsorang Rongreisek *

LINGUISTIC SURVEY OF INDIA
COMPILED AND EDITED BY
Dr. G. A. Grierson, C.I.E., D.Litt. I.C.S.
Member of Asiatic Society/American Centre

Vol.-III

TIBETO-BURMAN FAMILY

PART-III

SPECIMEN OF THE KUKI CHIN AND BURMA GROUP
1904

OLD-KUKI SUB-GROUP

The Old-Kuki Sub-Group comprises several dialects which are so closely connected that they cannot have had a long independent development of their own.

They are as follows:-

Rangkhol, spoken by 7820
Bete -do- 630
Hallam -do- 26848
Langrong -do- 6266
Aimol -do- 750(P)
Chiru -do- 750(P)
Kolren -do- 750(P)
Kom -do- 750(P)
Cha -do- (P)
Mhar -do- 2000

To these must probably be added the remnants of the Chote, Muntuk and Karum tribes in Manipur State, and three dialects which have been largely influenced by Meitheis.

RANGKHOL DIALECT

Mi-rim enkhatle nai-ba-sal enni a omta.
Man one – to sons two they were
a-tita lagana nang-ma ne nun ajimrip
he said afterwards thou property half

KOLREN OR KOIRENG

The Kolren or Koirengs are a small tribe in the State of Manipur. According to Mr.Damant, they dwell in eight small villages on the hills north of the valley, and number about 600. They are also found as a migratory tribe in the valley itself. Kolren is the name which the tribe gives to itself, and Koireng is probably a Manipuri corruption of this name. The Kwoirengs or Liyangs, which have been dealt with under the Naga-Kuki, are a different tribe, and the languages of both have very little in common.

Authorities:- Major McCulloch W.—Account of the valley of Munnipore and other languages.

Selection from the Records of the Govt. of India (Foreign Department) No.XXVII, Calcutta, 1859. Note on the Koirengs on PP.64 and f. Damant, G.H.-“…………………………..”
Short Note on the tribe (Kolren) on p.236

The Kolren dialect in essential points agrees with Hallam, Kom, Rangkhol, Langrong etc.; in some instances most closely with Khongzai. The two specimens and a list of standard words and phrases have been prepared by BABU BISHARUP SINGH in the Kharang Koireng village in the Manipur. They are the only foundation of the remarks on the Kolren dialect which follow:-

FREE TRANSLATION OF THE FOREGOING

Our ancestors tell that, at first, we were in the nether land. There was a hole leading from that place to this world; but it was always kept shut up with a heavy stone, and the people could not come out(to this world). But one day it so happened that a bird removed the stone and so all the subterranean people passed out, one after another, through this hole; but the Koirengs(who were coming behind) made so much noise when passing through the hole that it came to the notice of God, who, thinking them too many, shut up the hole again . But the Khongzais and Kabuis were provident and kept silent and so many of them were able to pass out (without the knowledge of God).

This, say the Koirengs, is the reason why their population is so small and why the other Nagas are so numerous.

Account of the valley of Munnipore and other Languages by Major W.McCulloch (1859)