Sophet Bneng is a dome-like hill near Shillong. Its name means the centre of heaven. From the time of creation, a tall tree grew atop the hill. It was used by heavenly beings as a ladder to travel to earth. At that time, the earth was uninhabited by humans, but was full of trees and flowers. When they found that the land near Sophet Bneng was fertile, they began to cultivate it for profit. However, at dusk, they would ascend to heaven. Among heavenly beings, there was one who greatly coveted power, and aspired to rule over his brethren. One day, seven cultivator families descended to earth. While they were busy working in their fields, the ambitious one cut down the tree of communication, and the seven families could not return to their heavenly home. Thus, it was that mankind came to live on earth, and it is from these seven families called by Khasis as 'Ki Hinniew Skum', meaning the seven nests, or the seven roots who descended from heaven on that fatal day that all the nations of the earth have sprung.