HATI MATLAH (Krem)

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

A cave entrance (3 m wide, 1.5 m high) at the base of a locally 3 m high cliff face gives access to a climb down into a partly explored cave passage, of which the known part is abandoned by flowing water, joint controlled in places and not only characterised by stray kataclastic deposits of recent beer bottle caps on the floor and by chemoclastic secondary calcite formations (speleothems) including “straws” and stalagmites (Smart, C M 2013.04.30 Mss: Krem Hati Thlaw 3 March 12) on the cave passage walls and ceiling but also by invisible blind elephants in the air (note 1). ETYMOLOGY: The origin of the cave name remains in the dark or, if you prefer, in the abode of the clouds, but was understood in February 2012 to mean Cave of blind elephant (Smart, C M 2013.03.11 personal correspondence) and such a blind elephant is called in Khasi rather -hati matlah- or -hati da don ym ioh-i- (note 2) than -hati thlah- (note 3) or -hati thlaw- (note 4). SITUATION: The cave entrance to Krem Hati Tlah [lies] right on the western edge of Syndai village (Smart, C M 2012.03.06 personal correspondence) and at the base of a 3 metre cliff (Smart, C M 2013.04.30 Mss: Krem Hati Thlaw 3 March 12) in an area where Lakadong Sandstone (generally a caprock resting on cavernous Lakadong Limestone) is exposed on the surface (NAG & PAL 1966 geological map). APPROACH: Take the Amkoi track westwards from Syndai Mission village. This is initially a track but soon becomes a footpath and then, at the last building becomes a series of steps downwards. Descend for approximately five minutes to where the path levels just before an obvious pinch point on the path. A route can then be forced to the right (north) through the jungle to an area of degraded clints and grykes. Proceed over these to the entrance at the base of a 3 metre cliff. A way point on the path is at 25°11'3.12”N, 92° 8'7.53”E (Smart, C M 2013.04.30 Mss: Krem Hati Thlaw 3 March 12). CAVE DESCRIPTION 2013: The 3 m wide by 1.5 m high ntrance at the base of the small cliff leads down over boulders for 2 m. This leads to a 3 m climb down over stal covered boulders into a mud floored chamber. This is the lowest point of the cave and is approximately 7 m high and up to 5 m wide. Two passages lead off. To the right, the 0.5 m wide by 1.2 m high passage chokes after a few metres in a stal covered collapse. At the opposite end of the chamber, to the left, a 2.5 m wide passage leads through stal covered walls for about 10 m. This gently ascending passage splits here again, to the left is a small chamber, 2 m in diameter and 4 m high and the main passage continues to the right.Two metres after the junction a 3 m scramble up stal covered boulders leads to a further narrowing of the passage to a 1 m wide passage that is then more characteristic of the remainder of the cave. The passage continues with a near 180 degree change of direction at one point to a sandstone boulder collapse (Smart, C M 2013.04.30 Mss). CAVE POTENTIAL-- prospects: It is possible that the floor of the entrance chamber is the lowest point of the cave and might repay another look for a continuation of the downstream section of the cave. It is also possible that there might be a high level passage at roof level. This is on the left hand wall across from the 3 m climb down in the entrance (Smart, C M 2013.04.30 Mss). TACKLE: None required (Smart, C M 2013.04.30 Mss) except a inflatable crocodiles and the rest. CAVE LIFE: Christopher M, Smart remembered on 30th April 2013 to have noticed on 2nd March 2012 during daytime the presence of Hetropoda spiders and cave crickets (Smart, C M 2013.04.30 Mss: Krem Hati Thlaw 3 March 12) in the sense of giant crab spiders (conf. Sparassidae: Heteropoda sp.) and Orthoptera that were encountered underground.-- prospects: It is possible that the floor of the entrance chamber is the lowest point of the cave and might repay another look for a continuation of the downstream section of the cave. It is also possible that there might be a high level passage at roof level. This is on the left hand wall across from the 3 m climb down in the entrance (Smart, C M 2013.04.30 Mss). TACKLE: None required (Smart, C M 2013.04.30 Mss) except a inflatable crocodiles and the rest. CAVE LIFE: Christopher M, Smart remembered on 30th April 2013 to have noticed on 2nd March 2012 during daytime the presence of Hetropoda spiders and cave crickets (Smart, C M 2013.04.30 Mss: Krem Hati Thlaw 3 March 12) in the sense of giant crab spiders (conf. Sparassidae: Heteropoda sp.) and Orthoptera that were encountered underground.