A Glimpse of Tai Khampti. Tenga-Pani or Nam Soum. By:- Chow Uppa Mansai.

TENGA-PANI OR NAM SOUM

      Chau-Ai-Noy-Longking-Kham was later appointed to the Commander in chief of the Khamptee garrison, entitle him as "Chou-Hokap-Nga-Kham" and moved westward towards Tenga-Pani, in Lohit, Arunachal Pradesh. Having heard the news of Chau-Ai-Noy's bravery, Bisa Gam, advance with a heavy army to fight against the Khamptee forces, confronted on the way to Tenga-Pani the news arrogated the Khamptee Commander in Chief, who fought back the Singphooand killed nearly one hundred and a fifty soldiers and brought with due respects and cordiality to Tenga-Pani. At Tenga-pani, Chau-Ai-Noy-Longking-Kham declared himself to ba a heavenly dynasty of Khun-Lu and Khun-Lai and vowed that, if this country or region is to be ruled by me, the water of the river wil be usually Tenga (Soum), i.e. full of acidity. The same was happened mysteriously. This retual performance was took place some time in the year of 1760 A.D. After testing the water of the river, the chief was convinced of the heavenly dynasty of the Khamptee and prompted to denounce his right on the region the occupied by the Khamptees.

      Since that very period the river was known as "Namsoum" or Tenga-Pani "in Assamese. The Long-King dynasty who were with the Chau-Ai-Noy-Longking-Kham and their clans were known to be Namsoum and thus, the inception of Namsoum clan in the Khamptee history in Assam.

      The Khamptee in their chronicles mentioned that the Khamptee belong to the "Phan-Seo-Kheo-Sang" means Phan=Clan. Seo=Tiger. Khoe=Dynasty. Sang=Demigod) i.e. White tiger clan and heavenly dynasty of Khun-Lu and Khun-Lai (Indra-Bangsha).

       At Tenga-Pani, the Khamptee Chief Burha Raja or Chau-Ngi-Longking-Kham - lived on the river bank of Tenga-Pani or Namsoum. Chau Ai-Noy-Longking-Kham or the Deka Raja was allowed to lives at Sadeeya. Sadeeya was know as Pang-Tewla or Moung-Tewla by the Khamptees. Acolony of about one hundred families was established at Chong-Kham, on the bank of Te-eng river, which flows in the mid of the village Chong-Kham. Chongkham carry a beautiful meaning, which stand for" Golden Temple i.e. Chong=Temple, Kham=Gold; Chongkham was established by two major Khamptee clan of Manfai and Mansai in 1789 A.D. (Tai Saka 1150). Chau Thonong Manfai, Chau-Naiseng Mansai was the pioneer who, took the initiative and led the work of establishing the village. It is said that the clan also belong to "Hook Long Hook Sang" principalities. Chow Thon-Ong and Chow Naiseng was an expert in the traditional art of Testiong soil to detect it 's fertility. The peak (Chik) of the roof of the temple was coated with gold plate. The news of construction of golden temple in Woisali or Asom had spread to the neigh-boaring country of Burma. Asom is still known as Woisali in Burma, Thailand, and others Tai countries. 

        Venerable Sumedha Mahathero was the first Priest, whom the administration of "Chong" Temple was handed. The posts of the Chong was coated with Gold dust paste on each post. The inner decoration was also with gold dust and the chick or peak was also coated with Gold.

         The rumour had spread, so much so that, the king of Burma had decided to conquer the golden temple of Woisali and most probably this led to the repeated invasion of Burmese to Ahum Kingdom til 1824 A.D.

          The Khamptees pushed towards Sadeeya from the Tenga-Pani region under the able leadership of Chau-Ai-Noy-Longking-Kham, while, the Burha Raja stayed at Tenga-Pani. in 1793, the Khamptee Chief of Sadeey, Chau Ai-Noy-Longkin-Kham succeeded in replacing the Ahum Governor of Sadeey, called Sadeeya-Khowa-Gohain, by the Khamptee Chief Chau Pha-Mong-Ngin-Long, whom the Ahum king had to acknowledged his governorship and allowed to settle there and to rule the north eastern region beyond Soikhowa.