MANIK SATI (Synrang)
25.183300,92.266700
Description
A Lakadong Sardar (note 1) had been aware of a jungle clad entrance to a cave called »Synrang Manik Sati« (Kharpran Daly, B D 1995.12.02 personal communication). IDENTITY: Unknown. Compare Krem –>Basti and the cave at –>Lakadong [00] (Brown 2002). ETYMOLOGY: The Khasi "ka synrang" is not only another word for »a cave« but also seems to signify something along the lines of an inhabitable kind of "wild home" (note 2). "U manik" is not only one of the words for »a king« but also for »a precious stone« (note 3), and "ka sati" signifies a »a ring« (note 4). SITUATION: About 200 m approximately north-east of Krem –>Umtngier (Kharpran Daly, B D 1995.12.02 personal communication) which itself lies north-west from the village of Umlatdoh / Umlatodo (note 5). CULTURAL HISTORY - cave legend: It seems likely -- though this is mere guesswork -- that the "Manik Sati" or »precious stone ring« is the Khasi peoples' magic ring "sati yngkúid" (note 6) »in ancient lore known … to possess magic that enabled the owners of the ring to obtain all the desires of their hearts« (RAFY, K U 1920: 61) or, if you prefer, »in Khasi folklore, supposed to have the same virtue as the "Wonderful Lamp" of the Arabian Nights« (SINGH, N 1906: 184).
NOTE 1: "u sardar" (Khasi / Urdu loan word, noun), pronounced ”u ser'dar” (SINGH, N 1920: 475), is the title of »the village headman« (SINGH, N 1906: 210), from "sirdar" (Hindi) from "sardar" (Urdu) from "" (Farsi / Persian). Quotations: 1828 »Sirdar -- A chief, captain, leader« (HAMILTON, W 1828, 2: 731). 1858 In the »… Jynteah Hill territory … four "Elakas" are under the charge of thirteen headmen called Sirdars« (ALLEN, W J 1858: 69). 1904 »Sordár, n. a sirdar, a village headman« (SINGH, N 1906: 210). 1906 »In some States there are village headmen, styled Sirdars, who settle cases, collect labour, and assess and receive for the chief the pynsuk, which may be literally translated as "gratification"« (GURDON, P R T 1906: 67). 1920 »Sirdar (ser'dar) n. U rangbah [the elder]; u Sardar« (SINGH, N 1920: 475). 1976 »Sardar, the head of an administrative unit in the Khasi and Jayantia [Jaintia] Hills« (BARPUJARI, H K 1976 ed. 1998: 159). 1990 »sirdar -- leader or commander« (LONELY PLANET, India 1990: 913; 1997: 1147; 2001: 1048; 2003: 1064; 2005: 1111; 2009: 1213; 2011: 0). 1993 »sirdar (sardar) -- leader or commander« (LONELY PLANET, India 1993: 1075; 1996: 1116). 1995 »20-11-95 … Travel onwards to village of Mawsahew, met and took tea with Sadar before being led down to visit two caves« (Brooks, S J in: BROOKS, S J et al 1998: 17). 2005 »sardar (also sirdar) noun, chiefly Indian, 1 a leader (often used as a proper name), 2 a Sikh (often used as a title or form of address)« (Oxford Dictionary 2005). NOTE 2: "ka synrang" (Khasi, noun) has not only been translated as »the coping of a rock or cave« (SINGH, N 1906: 216) or »cave« (SINGH, N 1920: 63) and »refuge« (SINGH, N 1920: 428) but also as »nest« (BLAH, E 2007: 198). The word seems to signify an inhabitable cave, rock shelter or den, especially the "hole" or lair of an animal and the hideout of a "runaway" (fairy, freedom fighter, hermit, king, madman, robber, terrorist, etc.). NOTE 3: The Khasi "U Manik" (BAREH, H 1967 / 1985, 1997: 39) or ”U Manick” (GIRI, H 1998: 68) is not only »the title of a king« (BAREH, H 1997: 39) but also a short form of "u maw manik" (noun), binomial: ”u moin - u manik” (SINGH, N 1906: 128), the word for »a kind of precious stone« (SINGH, N 1906: 128). NOTE 4: "ka sati" (Khasi, noun) is a contraction of ”ka ksah" (SINGH, N 1906: 49) »a ring« + "ka kti” »a finger« (SINGH, N 1906: 50, 231) and is the word for »a ring« (SINGH, N 1906: 184; SINGH, N 1920: 443; BLAH, E 2007: 256) in the sense of a small circular band, typically of precious metal and often set with one or more gemstones, worn on a finger as an ornament or a token of marriage, engagement, or authority. NOTE 5: Umlatdoh or »Umlotodo« (LATOUCHE, T H D 1890a: 14) is indicated near (±500 m) N25°11'44”: E092°16'45” (WGS84 modified from N25°11'42”: E092°16'55” Everest 1830) on the Survey of India Half-Inch sheet 83-C/SW (edition 1922). In front of what had been in 1995 the Sardar's house: (±90 m) N25°11'50”: E092°16'41”: barometric 840 m asl (Gebauer, H D 1995 November unstable 4-channel GPS Garmin 4, altimeter Thommen 6000). NOTE 6: "ka sati-yngkúid” (SINGH, N 1906: 184), or ”ka (sati-) yngkúid” (SINGH, N 1906: 247) »a magic ring in Khasi folklore, supposed to have the same virtue as the "Wonderful Lamp" of the Arabian Nights« (SINGH, N 1906: 247); »a magic ring, in ancient lore known … to possess magic that enabled the owners of the ring to obtain all the desires of their hearts« (RAFY, K U 1920: 61).
History
EXPLORATION HISTORY: 1995.12.02: A Lakadong Sardar (sorry, name lost) told Brian D. Kharpran Daly (1995.12.02 personal communication) about »Synrang Manik Sati«, a jungle clad cave entrance about 200 m approximately north-east of Krem –>Umtngier. 2014.02: »BKD [Brian D Kharpran Daly] claims Krem Busti (near ±5 m N25°11'21.1”: E92°16'01.1”: 760 m asl WGS84) is Krem Manik Sati« (Arbenz, T 2014.04.29 undated Mss: Cave record overwiev 2_2014.xlsx).
Caves nearby
| Distance (km) | Name | Length (m) | Depth (m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | LAKADONG [00] (Ringwood 1876) (Cave at) | ||
| 0.0 | MAHABON, Lakadong (Krang) | ||
| 0.0 | KSOW LAMET (Krang) | ||
| 0.0 | SHRIAH (Krang) | ||
| 0.0 | AMTYRSEY (Krang) | ||
| 0.0 | AMSHWET (Krang) | ||
| 0.0 | PHLANG LABIAT (Krang) | ||
| 0.0 | KYRDENGSHEN (Krang) | ||
| 0.6 | UMAT SWALLOW HOLE 1 (aa -) |