A History of Assam c11.18

c11.18

China and also the magic Hengdān. Khunlung and Khunlai built a town in Mungrimungrām. The latter by a stratagem ousted his elder brother, who thereupon, taking the Somdeo with him, went further west, and founded a new kingdom in Mungkhumungjāo.* He ruled for forty years, and then returned to heaven, leaving seven sons. The youngest, Khunchu, succeeded him, the others having been installed during his lifetime as tributary kings of other countries. The eldest son, whose kingdom was called Mungkang, inherited the Somdeo. Another son, it is said, was made king of Ava. In this connection, it is noteworthy that the Burmese rulers always called the Ahom princes their "brother kings." Mung means "country" and Kang "drum" or "poison," so that Mungkang may be translated either as the "country of the drum" or the "land of poison." Apparently the former is the correct translation, as Ney Elias quotes a tradition that Sāmlungphā found a sapphire drum in the bed of the local river.