UM KHIAN 1 (Tyngkhap Maw)

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

The first of a collection of three fissures / depressions containing minimal amounts of cave passage (Brooks 2006.02.21 Mss: Lumthari Fissures). ETYMOLOGY: The Khasi noun -ka tyngkhap maw- translates as a rift, a crevice of a rock (SINGH, N 1906: 238). The Khasi or Synteng term -khian- is not listed in SINGH, N (1906: 30) but the adjective -khim- means narrow (SINGH, N 1906: 31) and -ka kian“ is a charm, a magic; keenness of intellect (SINGH, N 1906: 41). SITUATION 1 (Brooks 2006.02.21 Mss): On either side (east and west) of track / footpath that runs from Lumthari village to Um Khian near GPS point and at the head of an up to 200 m wide and 300 m long pocket valley (embraced by coal mines) at the foot of the Shnongrim Ridge in a location where Arbenz, T (2006 map: Shnongrim Ridge) shows a stream (the Um Khian?) rising and flowing north and north-east to join near N25°23'04”: E092°33'03” the left (south-west) bank of the river Kopili. SITUATION 2: According to the recorded GPS postion N25°22'44.2”: E92°32'46.6” (±9 m bogus?, WGS84, Brooks 2006.02.21Mss: Lumthari Fissures (3 sites / caves) 21-2-2006): 965 m asl (A. Boycott 2006.02.17, GPS Garmin Map CS) lies Tyngkhap Um Khian 1 about a kilometer in a direct line approximately north-northwest (1020 m north, 252 m west) from Lumthari village (N25°22'12”: E92°32'57”: 1000 m asl). SITUATION 3 (Brooks 2006.02.21 Mss): Fissure 1) lies on the east side some 40 m from track. CAVE DESCRIPTION (Brooks 2006.02.21 Mss): Up to 5 m wide and estimated 50 m broad at the top but tapering to 2 m at base aligned N-S. Free climbable at both ends. Earth choke at base estimated 15 m down. PROSPECTS: Brooks (2006.02.21 Mss): Limited prospects.