The Legend of Hmuichukchuruduninu
Hmuichukchuruduninu was a very greedy creature who would eat anything she could catch, making no distinction between animals and humans. It is said that using her long, pointed snout, she could even suck out the brains of children. To many, her mere appearance was terrifying enough.
The Story of Nuchhimi and Her Sibling
Long ago, there was a beautiful young girl named Nuchhimi. She was well-behaved, faithful, and hardworking, and her parents loved and cherished her deeply. One day, Nuchhimi's parents slaughtered a pig. They sent Nuchhimi and her younger sibling to deliver a leg of the pork to their aunt (their father's sister). Nuchhimi's mother explained the directions: the path to their aunt’s house was clean and clear, while the path leading to Hmuichukchuruduninu’s house was overgrown, messy, and covered in thorns and weeds. She warned them carefully so they wouldn't lose their way. Unfortunately, while the mother was giving directions, Hmuichukchuruduninu was eavesdropping. She quickly went out and cleaned her own path, making it look inviting, while she scattered debris and overgrowth across the path leading to the aunt’s house.
The Deception
When the siblings reached the fork in the road, they encountered Hmuichukchuruduninu. When they asked for the way to their aunt’s house, she lied, claiming she was their aunt and that they had only one aunt—her. She then led the children to her home. When night fell, they stayed at her house. Hmuichukchuruduninu slept in the main bed, while Nuchhimi and her sibling slept in the khum-ai (a smaller bed/side area). It so happened that Nuchhimi’s sibling had a sore on their head. Hmuichukchuruduninu waited for them to fall asleep. Just as they began to drift off, she started sucking the sibling's brain through the sore on their head. Waking up in sharp pain, the sibling cried out, "Ow, mother! Ow, mother!" The cunning ogress quickly retreated to her bed and said kindly and gently, "Don't worry, there's nothing to fear. My house is just full of bedbugs, and I feel so bad about it. Go back to sleep, dear." A short while later, the child fell back asleep, and the ogress resumed. By the time the sibling realized what was happening, they were too weak to do anything. Hmuichukchuruduninu finished her meal and ate the child completely.
The Discovery and Escape
When morning broke, the ogress ordered Nuchhimi to light the fire. Being an obedient girl, Nuchhimi went to the hearth, where she discovered her sibling's bones. She began to weep silently. Hmuichukchuruduninu noticed and asked harshly, "Nuchhimi, what are you doing? Are you crying?" Not daring to tell the truth, Nuchhimi replied that her eyes were watering because of the smoke from the fire. After breakfast, the ogress stuffed Nuchhimi into a large woven basket (bawmrâng) and tied it shut tightly with ropes. Planning to eat her after returning from the fields in the evening, she left. While she was away, a tiny mouse appeared. Seeing Nuchhimi’s plight and realizing she couldn't escape on her own, the mouse began gnawing at the ropes. It eventually chewed through them, freeing Nuchhimi. After thanking the mouse, Nuchhimi ran back to her parents as fast as she could. She told them everything, and her parents were filled with rage. They set out immediately to Hmuichukchuruduninu’s house to take a terrible revenge.
The Revenge
They arrived at the ogress's house and set several traps:
They buried an egg in the hot ashes of the hearth.
They hid a hornet's nest under her quilt.
They placed a snake in her water pot.
They weakened the main support beam of the porch so it would collapse.
They tied a vicious he-goat underneath the porch.
When Hmuichukchuruduninu returned from the fields, she brought back a pregnant deer she had caught and was feeling very pleased with herself. She called out for Nuchhimi to open the door, but there was only silence. Thinking Nuchhimi was still trapped in the basket, she forced the door open herself. Disaster struck immediately. When she tried to drink water, the snake bit her. When she tried to light the fire, the egg exploded in the heat, splattering her face. When she tried to lie on her bed, the hornets swarmed and stung her mercilessly. Terrified, she ran outside, but the weakened beam collapsed, and she fell through the floor. Waiting below was the vicious he-goat, which gored her repeatedly. That was the end of the dreaded Hmuichukchuruduninu!
