MOOÏAR (Krem)
25.150600,92.437500
Description
A south facing cave entrance (up to 20 m wide and 2 m high) gives access to a seasonal exsurgence cave characterised by a subhorizontal, vadose, and tube-like cave passage, which is lenticular cross-section (15 m wide and 2 m high), apparently of phreatic origin, and leads to what had been in February 1997 sumps at a distance of 50 m from the entrance. A lateral and "muddyfied" series of zigzagging and parallel rift cave passages decreases in size and was followed for 170 m to a calcite choke (speleothem) and from there for another 8 m to an impenetrable constriction. ETYMOLOGY: The originally elicited cave name »Krem Moowar« (Kharpran Daly, B D 1997 February) seems to describe an Extensive or Spacious Rock Cave (note 1) and the variant »Krem Mooïar« about the same (note 2) but may be a misinterpretation of Krem Awria or Krem Auria (note 3). IDENTITY -- mere guesswork: The Hmar (Mizo) name of the unidentified –>Awia Pouk (Raphael Warjri 1998.03.10 personal communication with Zuala Ralsun, Khaddum) sounds similar and the suggested location "some 3 km" (or so) on foot downstream from Khaddum (25°09'25”N: 92°26'18”E: 108 m) and above one or the other bank of Lubha River (Christian W. Fischer, February 1999 personal communication with villagers at Khaddum) may indicate the same location and cave. SITUATION: On the orographically right (locally north-eastern) bank of Lubha river and an estimated 40 m in a direct line upstream from the cave entrance of Krem –>Mahabon. CAVE DESCRIPTION: »Krem Moowar [sic!], a flood overflow, yields 230 m of passage« (BROOKS, S J 1998b: 28). PROSPECTS: Without any doubt, the sumps are hydrologically connected to the neighbouring Krem –>Mahabon. Further exploration needs diving (keyword: diving spot).
NOTE 1: The Synteng Khasi (Pnar) noun "u moo" (MOHRMEN, H H 2012.07.30) or "u mo" and "u mu" (SINGH, N 1906: 132) is the same as the standard Khasi "u maw" (SINGH, N 1906: 130; GURDON, P R T 1906: 201; SINGH, N 1920: 498; BLAH, E 2007: 288) or "u mau" (YULE, H 1844: 619; OLDHAM, T 1854/1984 appendix C: lxi) and signifies not only a rock (GURDON, P R T 1906: 201) but also a stone (OLDHAM, T 1859 / 1984 appendix C: lxi; GURDON, P R T 1906: 201; SINGH, N 1906: 130; SINGH, N 1920: 498; BLAH, E 2007: 289). wàr (Khasi; adverb) far behind, spaciously (SINGH, N 1906: 245); as: ieng kyllúid wàr (SINGH, N 1906: 245) or: [of or relating to] plenty of space far behind the house (hdg 2015.10.21). NOTE 2: ba iar (Khasi; adjective), spelled: ba iár (SINGH, N 1906: 87), ba ïar (BLAH, E 2007: 98), contracted: baïar (BLAH, E 2007: 38, 323) broad (OLDHAM, T 1859 / 1984 appendix C: lxvi); wide, open, extended (SINGH, N 1906: 87); ample, broad, capacious, diffusive, extensive, obtuse, prevalent, wide, widespread (SINGH, N 1920: 17, 54, 59, 122, 169, 346, 399, 592, 592); ample, broad, vast, wide (BLAH, E 2007: 12, 37, 323, 333). NOTE 3: awria, auria: abandoned ba awria (SINGH, N 1920: 1). incontinence ka jingauria (SINGH, N 1920: 245). incontinent ba auria (SINGH, N 1920: 245). incontinently ha ka jingauria (SINGH, N 1920: 245). libertine uba auria (SINGH, N 1920: 291). libertinism ka jinghikai long awria lane ka jingim awria (SINGH, N 1920: 291). libidinous ba awria (SINGH, N 1920: 291). licentious [ba] awria (SINGH, N 1906: 6); ba awria (SINGH, N 1920: 291); ba im thala bad awria (BLAH, E 2007: 170). licentiousness ka jingawria (SINGH, N 1920: 291); ka jingim thala bad awria (BLAH, E 2007: 170). lust ka jingawria (SINGH, N 1920: 301). obscene ba auria (SINGH, N 1920: 345). profligacy ka jinglong awria (SINGH, N 1920: 403). prostitution kaba leh-awria (SINGH, N 1920: 407). sodomy ka kam awria (BLAH, E 2007: 279). voluptuous ba awria (SINGH, N 1920: 581). voluptuously da ka jingawria (SINGH, N 1920: 581).
History
EXPLORATION HISTORY: 1997.02.17: H. Daniel Gebauer (book), Georg Bäumler (compass, clino), Brian D. Kharpran Daly (tape) and Simon J. Brooks surveyed 170 m and mapped 230 m of cave passages leaving diving spots unexplored. 1999.02.17: Christine Jantschke and Herbert Jantschke pushed the dry north-eastern end for another 8 m.
Caves nearby
| Distance (km) | Name | Length (m) | Depth (m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | MAHABON, Lukha (Krem) | ||
| 0.4 | SKEI, Lukha (Krem) | ||
| 0.4 | THLEA PHOK POUK | ||
| 0.6 | LAILUK POUK | ||
| 0.6 | LAILUK POUK, 2nd | ||
| 0.6 | AA CAVE, Khaddum (1999c) | ||
| 0.7 | URHULU POUK | ||
| 0.7 | PALTAN POUK | ||
| 0.9 | LUNAR, 1st (Cave on the) |