MAWSHUN (Krem)
25.310000,92.500800
Description
NOTE 1: Brooks & Janossy (2002.02.19 Mss: Krem Mawshun 1 / Krem Shun) arrive at a survey length of 3'338.7 m (probably based on computed notebook records) and DOWSWELL (2000b) even at 3.5 km. Processing the 2000 survey data, however, results in a survey length of 3'259.13 m and a passage length of 3'250 m (along the centre line), a covered area of 54'939 square metres and a volume of 63'555 cubic metres. In February 2008, additional surveys resulted in a total survey length of 3'554.58 m at a vertical range of 72.39 m. The 3'634 km claimed by BROWN & BROOKS (2008: 16) are more imaginative. NOTE 2 - Localities list: Lelad church N25°18'40": E92°29'40” (±15 m, WGS84, Gebauer 1999.03.29, Garmin 12).Lelad church N25°18'35": E92°29'43" (unspecified precision error, WGS84, R. Galloway 2000.02.14, Etrex). Entrance 1 N25°18'36": E92°30'03" (±15 m, WGS84, Gebauer 1999.03.29, Garmin 12). Entrance 1 N25°18'36": E92°30'03" (unspecified precision error, WGS84, copied? or R. Galloway 2000.02.14, Etrex). Entrance 2 "Exit" N25°18'29": E92°30'16" (unspecified precision error, WGS84, R. Galloway 2000.02, ETrex). Entrance 3 "Final Exit" N25°18'35": E92°30'29" (unspecified precision error, WGS84, R. Galloway 2000.02, Etrex). NOTE 3: According to Brooks, S J (undated amendment to Wade 2008.02.21 Mss: Mawshun), this relates to »New passage --explored on 21/2/2008. This needs to be added to Krem Mawshun (Lelad) cave registry entry.«
A dendritic river cave, so far 3258 m long (note 1), that acts as a master cave for several inlets and drains the area east of the village Lelad (Lailad, Lelat, on the Shnongrim Ridge) to the river valley of the Letein (Litang, Litien). Geologically situated at the edge of the caprock (Kopili shales) in the uppermost section of the nummulitic limestone. ETYMOLOGY: The noun "mawshun" (standard Khasi) or "mushun" (Synteng Khasi / Pnar), in short chune, is the same word as chunam (Hindi) or chunar (Bengali) and signifies lime, burned lime, slaked lime, etc., but "[ba] shun" (adjective) means »adversary; inimical« (SINGH, N 1920: 10, 257); »adversive« (BLAH, E 2007: 6).Thus, the cave name "Krem Mawshun" may refer to a cave which is thought to be unfriendly or tending to obstruct or harm. SITUATION: The cave lies 680 m (Gebauer 1999.03.29: 600 m) in a direct line east (093°) of the church at Lelad village but some 100 m lower, and in the large obvious basin to the east of the village (note 2). It is possible to walk steeply downhill into this basin and to follow a streambed to the cave entrance (Brooks, Simon J. 2000.02). CAVE DESCRIPTION 1 (Brooks & Janossy 2000.02.19 Mss: Krem Mawshun 1 / Krem Shun): An uninviting entrance between boulders takes a seasonal stream and opens to a 5 m pot into a fine, clean-washed stream passage (2 m wide, 5 m high). This leads quickly (circa 30 m) to a 24 m deep pitch split in two stages (7 m, 17 m). Below this, the stream passage continues, getting generally larger until, after 250 m, a main stream passage is met (Meringue Junction). Upstream the cave maintains a good size (8 by 6 m) until a series of rifts and some small stream passages are met. This end of the cave terminates in inlets after 320 m. Downstream the passage reaches impressive proportions (more than 12 m wide and 10 m high). At 220 m another major inlet is met (Strawberry Split) that runs for over 500 m to terminate in a large boulder choke. 300 m downstream a third major junction is met (Banana Split) that quickly divides into two independent inlets and has some 300 m of passage. Downstream the cave continues in impressive size (12 by 10 m) for approximately 740 m to terminate as a downstream exit amongst pinnacle karst after passing through several boulder chokes. In the streamway between Meringue Junction and Banana Split are several very well decorated high level passages. These seem to be remnants of a former streamway. CAVE DESCRIPTION 2 (BROOKS 2000b: 5): »Krem Mawshun (length 3.3 km's} … began with a vertical entrance series that intersected a fine branching and typically 'Meghalayan' main streamway.« CAVE DESCRIPTION 3 (DOWSWELL 2000b): »3.5 km of clean washed 'Yorkshire' type cave.« CAVE DESCRIPTION 4 (Jarratt (2000.02.17 Mss: Cave Log 17/2/0): »A short entrance crawl / pitch led to a split c. 60' pitch and pleasant length of passage bisecting a major phreatic bore tube with some fine formations, bats and pools. Simon, Kate, and Kirsten went upstream to survey and photograph. Kevin, Pete and Fraser surveyed, videoed and photographed in Strawberry Split and Roger and I continued to the "end" where the cave ran below a series of collapse entrances. We surveyed 212.1 metres [downstream], through a maze of low, wet tubes and boulder areas to stop in a large chamber where the stream sank in a small tube. A bouldery gallery beyond was followed for another hundred metres or so to emerge in a large flood resurgence entrance in an area of felled trees and bamboo. The surrounding jungle and tower / pinnacle karst prevented our finding an overland route back so we had a fag and returned through the cave to meet the others at the pitches. A pleasant day's caving which has brought the total length of this system up to nearly 3 km. (The Boks, Neil, Ronnie and Co arrived today. A boozy night was had!).« Jarratt (200.02.18 Mss: Cave Log 18/2/0): »Suffering from Meghalayan hangovers, Roger and I surveyed downstream leaving the others to head upstream for surveying and photography. Our first job was to survey a superb inlet passage on the right hand side opposite the large bank of gours. This itself was floored with wet and dry gour pools and had some attractive formations. It unfortunately ended at a 12 m high aven after 123 metres. An excellent hangover cure we called Seafood Dip. Feeling slightly better we carried on downstream and surveyed 45 m of loop passage on the left hand side near the main boulder choke. This was left unfinished due to its maze of passages and time running out. On to the collapse entrances area where we surveyed the waist deep canal leading to the final "chamber". Here I took the opportunity of shampooing my hair in the relatively clean water –a treat! Good job I hadn't noticed the huge spider sitting on the wall directly above … 28 m surveyed. Our last job was to survey from yesterday's terminal point out of the flood resurgence (avoiding the spiders). The last section of unroofed passage is a pretty spectacular place with superb limestone pinnacles flanking the approach. 85 m surveyed. Using the GPS and compass we navigated our way back to Lelad along well used foot paths through superb pinnacle karst with small plantations and log piles. Three unexplored shafts (shallow) were located.« CAVE CONTENTS: Sand and gravel is found in stream passages, mud in side passages and oxbows. Significant calcite deposits (speleothems: gours, stal) were observed in high level roof passages and oxbows and below avens in the main passage. TACKLE: Entrance pitch: 10 m lifeline, 2 m tether, 5 m ladder. 1st pitch: 40 m rope & 2 bolts (or one 8 m plus two 8 m ladders, belay slings, bolts, etc. and 50 m lifeline). SPELEOMETRY: Instead of referring to the actually measured survey length of 3250 m (3554,58 m measured), both Brooks & Brown (undated 2008.02.29 Mss: Overview) and BROWN & BROOKS (2008: 16) draw attention to a belief according to which »Krem Mawshun [was extended] from 3.33 to 3.624 km.« Along similar lines, Anonymous (2008 Mss: Survey Summary) claims the unfounded »3330« (metres) pre-2008 survey length and adds »21.02.08; Tangnoob; K. Mawshun; PG, JW, HR; 2008 survey 171« plus »25.02.08; Tangnoob; K. Mawshun; IF, LK, MT; 2008 survey 123« to arrive at a fairly wishful »total 3624.« CAVE LIFE: »Snot gobblers« (larval stage of fungus gnats, Diptera: Mycetophilidae), comparatively large spiders (conf. Heteropoda sp.), allegedly »blind« cave fish very similar to those caught in –>Synrang Pamiang in 1999, harvestmen (mites, Opiliones), fresh water crabs, 4 cm long millipedes (Myriapoda, Diplopoda, Trachyjulidae, Trachyiulus mimus Silvestri 1924?), frogs, bats (Chiroptera), and a large, bronze coloured moth with 2.5 cm wing span.
Documents
Bibliography 31/05/2016- Arbenz, Thomas, Bartholeyns, Jean-Pierre, Brooks, Simon J, Brown, Mark W & Hapka, Roman 2008; Brooks, Simon J 2000a, 2000b; Brown, Mark W & Brooks, Simon J 2008; Brown, Mark & Dowswell, Peter N F 2000a; Edmunds, Paul 1999; Jarratt, Anthony 'Tony' R & Audsley, Annie 2002; Kharpran Daly, Brian D 2004, s a 2006.
History
EXPLORATION HISTORY: 1999.03.29, trip 1: H. D. Gebauer recorded a GPS reading at the entrance, guided by Kyrshan Dhar under the auspices of Shanglang Bamon and Thiklang Chyrmang, and assisted by Paul A. Edmunds, Katharina "Kate" Janossy, Gregory B. Diengdoh and 10 pupils of the Wells Cathedral School. 2000.02.14 - 18, trips 2 to 7: Simon J. Brooks, Mark W. Brown, Brian D. Kharpran Daly, Peter N. F. Dowswell, Amanda Edgeworth, Roger Galloway, Kevin Garwood, Katharina "Kate" Janossy, Anthony 'Tony' R Jarratt, Kirsten McCullough, Fraser E. Simpson, guided by Paul Bareh, explored and "surveyed" to a degree yielding a total of 3259.13 m of measured distances and gaining almost more than -72.39 m of depth. 2008.02.20, trip 8: »Mark, Axel, Hugh, Rowena and Alys went to Mawshun to take some photographs and to inspect the North East boulder choke for leads« (Brown et al. 2008 Mss "Meghalaya 2008 diary" Wednesday 20th February). 2008.02.21, trip 9: »Jeff, Philippa and Henry went to Mawshun to survey the small wet side passage spotted by Mark the previous day. After 170 m the passage became too tight« (Brown et al. 2008 Mss "Meghalaya 2008 diary" Thursday 21th February). Wade (2008.02.21 Mss: Mawshun) confirms that »J. Wade, H. Rockcliff & P. Glanvill explored stream inlet nearby NE choke. This closed down ##### [agteb? agted?] over a hundred metres« (note 3).2008.02.25, trip 10: »Imo, Louise and Mark T went to Krem Mawshun to look at a climbing lead – this did not bypass the boulder choke. They surveyed 123 m to end of a passage past the boulder choke, which ended choked with mud. They then derigged« (Brown et al. 2008 Mss "Meghalaya 2008 diary" Monday 25th February). By February 2008 at total of 3554.58 m of accumulated distances was gained along with a vertical range of 72.39 m (+0.0 m / -72.39 m).
Caves nearby
| Distance (km) | Name | Length (m) | Depth (m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.2 | MAWSHUN 2 (Krem) | ||
| 0.2 | MAWSHUN 3 (Krem) | ||
| 0.4 | MAWSHUN 1b (Krem) | ||
| 0.4 | SNIANG (Krem) | ||
| 0.6 | LELAD CAVE 2 | ||
| 0.6 | UM SOHTUNG (Brown 2006) (Krem) | ||
| 0.6 | LELAD CAVE | ||
| 0.7 | NIAKRONG (Krem) | ||
| 0.7 | PAULUS (Krem) |