1894.] E. A. Gait —Contents of one of the Ahom Putin's. Ill 
they were only allowed to live and to escape from the gourd, they 
would settle down and cultivate. Aiphalan then aimed at the place 
where the cattle were, but they likewise begged to be spared, saying 
that they would be required by the men for ploughing. Indra’s son 
again changed the direction of his aim, but was again met by entreaties 
to discharge his fiery missile at some other part of the gourd. At last, 
the old man Thaolipling, who was sitting at the point where the flower 
had died off from the gourd, offered to sacrifice himself for the men if 
they agreed first to feed him, and promised to worship him ever after¬ 
wards. This they did, and Aiphfilan thereupon discharged the light¬ 
ning towards the part of the gourd on which the old man was sitting. 
Thaolipling was killed, but the gourd was split open and everything 
inside it escaped. Aiphalan then taught the men different occupations. 
He also taught the birds how to build their nests, and the other 
animals how to support themselves. 
Thaolipling is still worshipped by the Deodhals, who make him 
offerings of sweets, grain, &c. Xndra is their main and supreme God, 
but this does not prevent their also doing homage to the man, but for 
whose act of self abnegation the gourd might have remained unbroken 
until the present day. 
J. i. 15 
