LUM LAWBAH CAVE 1 (aa -)
25.258900,91.722200
Description
An east-facing rift cave entrance (2 m wide, 5 m high) invites cavers from far away and gives access to one solitary, daylight lit cave passage with overhanging walls, which ia about 5 m long and rises to an estimated 10 m high, closed aven. ETYMOLOGY: No autochthonous, indigenous or locally known name has been identified for what here is called after Lum Lawbah, the name of a hill sacred to a certain U Suid Lawbah, a tutelary deity (note 1).SITUATION: An amphitheater-shaped bay (pocket valley) on the eastern rim of Lum Lawbah, is accessible for lorries and used as a coal loading area. Here, the cave entrance to the first cave on Lum Lawbah lies in the western side of the amphitheater, near the top of a scree slope, and at the base of the east-facing cliff.
NOTE 1: ka lawbah (Khasi, noun), a contraction of: ka khláw bah (SINGH, N 1906: 111), a dense forest (SINGH, N 1906: 111) but U Suid Lawbah, a contraction of: u ksuid (a pagan deity, a christian devil) + ka khlaw (a forest, a wood) + u bah (respected elder brother), is a cognomen used when referring to »a forest spirit« (GURDON, P R T 1906: 124): »When the umbilical cord, after being tied, falls off, a puja is performed with eggs to certain water deities (ka blei sam-um and ka niangriang), also to a forest spirit (u 'suid bri or u 'suid khlaw)« (GURDON, P R T 1906: 124).
History
EXPLORATION HISTORY: 1998.02.13: H. D. Gebauer made a quick detour and explored, found the accessible part of this cave lit by daylight, took a compass bearing and moved on.
Caves nearby
| Distance (km) | Name | Length (m) | Depth (m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.3 | LUM LAWBAH CAVE 4 (aa -) | ||
| 0.4 | LUM LAWBAH CAVE 5 (aa -) | ||
| 0.4 | SOH PANG BNIAT (Krem) | ||
| 0.4 | LUM LAWBAH: Doline 3 (aa -) | ||
| 0.5 | RONG UMSOH - SOH PANG BNIAT (Krem) | ||
| 0.5 | LUM LAWBAH: Doline (aa -) | ||
| 0.5 | SOH PANG BNIAT 2 (Krem) | ||
| 0.5 | SOH PANG BNIAT 3 (Krem) | ||
| 0.5 | SOH PANG BNIAT 4 (Krem) |