WAHBAH SANG (Krem)
25.158300,92.366700
Description
A possibly essential cave at a relatively auspicious location (we can expect the resurge of Krem –>Kotsati here) has been vaguely reported either as a cave entrance giving access to a relatively large "forbidden" river (Swit Sungoh, Umsteiñ Village Headman 1997.02.26 personal communication) or as a relatively »big entrance« --presumably that of a cave-- with a relatively small stream either »going in or coming out« (Jarratt and Boycott, February 1997 personal communication). ETYMOLOGY: The origin and meaning of the recorded cave name "Krem Wahbah Sang" was lost to Anthony 'Tony' R Jarratt and Dr. Antony 'Tony' Boycott but seems to refer to a "krem" or cave on a "wah bah" or large stream (note 1), which (the stream) is specified by a kind of pagan religious connotation (note 2). SITUATION: Unknown. Tony & Tony (1997 personal communication) understood this cave entrance to lie at a walking distance of about 1.5 hours (some 5 km or 6 km) in an unidentified direction from the village of Wahstein (25°09'05”N: 92°20'50”E Boycott A 1997 February GPS). CAVE POTENTIAL: The location, though vague, renders Krem Wah Bah Sang a suspect for the still undetected spring and resurgence cave from which the underground waters of Krem –>Kotsati emerge to relatively broad forest- or daylight. PROSPECTS: Most fascinating for some.
NOTE 1: ka wah (Khasi; noun), binomial imitative "ka wah - ka um" (SINGH, N 1906: 244), also spelled "kawah" (ALLEN, W J 1858: 61), a stream; a river (SINGH, N 1906: 244); a mountain stream (ALLEN, W J 1858: 61) u bah (Khasi; noun, vocative case), elder brother, a term of respect (SINGH, N 1906: 7).; an elder brother, a term of respect, "sir" in Khasi (KHARPRAN DALY, B D 2014: xi).ka wah bah (Khasi; noun), binomial imitative "ka wah bah - ka wah san" (SINGH, N 1906: 244), a large river (SINGH, N 1906: 244); a river (SINGH, N 1920: 444; BLAH, E 2007: 257). ka wah duit (Khasi; noun), binomial imitative: "wahduit - wahrit" (SINGH, N 1906: 244), also spelled "ka wah duid" (SINGH, N 1906: 73), "i wah-duit" (SINGH, N 1920: 500), "ka wahduid; i wahduid" (BLAH, E 2007: 37, 290), a rivulet; a streamlet (SINGH, N 1906: 244); brook; rill; rivulet; stream; streamlet (SINGH, N 1920: 54, 443, 444, 500); brook; rill; rivulet; stream; streamlet (BLAH, E 2007: 37; 256, 257, 290).ka wah rit (Khasi; noun), literally: a small stream (of water), a brook (SINGH, N 1920NOTE 2: kaba sang (Khasi; noun), a taboo (SINGH, N 1906: 180; SINGH, N 1920: 516; BLAH, E 2007: 300), »a social or religious custom prohibiting or restricting a particular practice or forbidding association with a particular person, place, or thing« (origin [late 18th century] from "tabu" (Tongan), set apart, forbidden (introduced into English by Captain Cook), from "tapu" (Polynesian), consecrated and magical, untouchable [virgin]; in German: »geweiht, magisch, unberührbar« (Reichstätter, Louisa 2010 feb. 18, Die Zeit Nr. 8). ba sang (Khasi, adjective) has been translated as forbidden (SINGH, N 1906: 180); incestuous (SINGH, N 1906: 180); inviolable (SINGH, N 1920: 271); profane (SINGH, N 1920: 403); sacrilegious (SINGH, N 1906: 180); sacrilegious (SINGH, N 1906: 180); taboo (SINGH, N 1906: 180; BLAH, E 2007: 300); unhallowed (SINGH, N 1920: 555), unholy (SINGH, N 1920: 556) and unlawful (SINGH, N 1920: 558). s'ang (Khasi; verb), a contraction of "syang" (SINGH, N 1906: 180) to roast; to toast (SINGH, N 1906: 180); bake (SINGH, N 1920: 35).
History
EXPLORATION HISTORY: 1997.02.26: Swit Sungoh, the retired Umstein village headman, reported cave name »Krem Wah Basang« and cave characteristics to Anthony 'Tony' R Jarratt and Boycott, Antony 'Tony' (February 1997 personal communication). Brooks, S J, however, wants to make believe the main protagonist Swit Sungoh plays no role at all as if »Estelle, Tony, Kaiman [Kyrmen 'Hope' C Hiwot Passah] and J-Rat« on their own would have been able to manage »collecting information about a cave known as Krem Wah Basang [sic! qua: Krem Wahbah Sang]« (Simon J Brooks in: BROOKS, S J et al 1998: 30).
Caves nearby
| Distance (km) | Name | Length (m) | Depth (m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.6 | UMRYMPHEW (Krem) | ||
| 0.8 | SHNONG, Umsteiñ (Ngam) | ||
| 1.3 | CHILLI CAVE, Lumshnong | ||
| 1.5 | UM SAITHET KYNTHEI, Lumshnong (Krem) | ||
| 1.5 | PETROL STATION CAVE (aa -) | ||
| 1.6 | UMLAWAN 1: Y-Pot (Krem) | ||
| 1.6 | UMLAWAN 1: Surprise Exit (Krem) | ||
| 1.6 | UMLAWAN 1: Cinema Cave (Krem) | ||
| 1.7 | UMLAWAN 1: Lake Inlet Cave (Krem) |