A History of Assam c11.16

c11.16

* A very similar tradition is current in the Shan States (*The Shans at Home* by Milne and Cochrane, pp. 18 *et seq.*), but according to that version there were two idols, a male called Sung, and a female called Sang; Ney Elias says they were the images of Khunlung's ancestors. The Somdeo is said to have been still in the possession of Purandar Singh when he took refuge in Bengal in 1819. In 1912 Colonel P. R. Gurdon, c.s.i., found with his descendant, Kuar Chandra Nārāyan Singh of Jorhat, a metal plaque, oblong in shape, but rounded at the top, measuring about 9½ in. by 3½ in. and half an inch thick, which was said to have been used as a pedestal for the Somdeo. There was a hole at the upper end, by means of which it was said to have been suspended from the neck of the Ahom kings at the time of their coronation ceremony. Colonel Gurdon was informed that the Sōmdeō was a jewel set in a cylinder, and that it was sold in Calcutta by a nephew of Purandar Singh when in financial difficulties. A similar fate, he was told, befell a set of seven gold caskets, one inside the other, in which the Somdeo and plaque were formerly kept. The plaque bears on its back, front and sides Chinese inscriptions, *viz.*, on the front, "Letters patent dated the fifth year of Yung Lo" (1408 A.D.); on the back, "By command of his Imperial Majesty, the President of the Board compares both halves"; on the left side, "Be faithful" and on the right side, "Let the rescript have effect. The Royal Commission for conciliation Timāsā."