KHLEIH UM LARNG CAVE, 1st
25.179200,92.379200
Description
An unspecified cave entrance (unidentified shape, unidentified dimensions, unidentified orientation, unidentified characteristics) was understood to give access to one or the other of »two« relatively »small caves« where Simon J Brooks and Paul A Edmunds noticed nothing (BROOKS, S J et al 1998: 30).ETYMOLOGY: Little doubt remains that the strange cave name "Krem Khleih Um Larng" (Brooks, S J (n: BROOKS, S J et al 1998: 30) is a fine example of private orthography (note 1). It may be worthwhile to consider that "U Laren" is the name of »a fabulous monster; a thunderbolt« (SINGH, N 1906: 111), ”u larnong” signifies »a kind of shrub yielding a red colour used in dyeing cloths« (note 2), and "[ba] riang" (adjective) means »aligned, in a row« (note 3). SITUATION: On the one-hand side in an unknown spatial relation to the cave entrance of the second »Krem Khleih Um Larng« and on the other hand not only in unknown setting but also at an unknown location without GPS position and at an unknown walking distance in an unknown direction from the village of Lumshnong (25°10'46”N: 92°22'49”E).
NOTE 1: The Khasi verb "khlei" means »to cast out of the mouth; to spue« (SINGH, N 1906: 32) but "ka khlieh" (noun) is the word for »the head; the top« (SINGH, N 1906: 33) as ”ka khlieh-lum” signifies »a peak« (SINGH, N 1920: 369) and "ka maloi khlieh" (noun) »the brain pan« (SINGH, N 1920: 52).The Khasi prefix "la" is a sign of possesive case (SINGH, N 1906: 108), but the »rng« created by Simon J. Brooks (in: BROOKS, S J et al 1998: 30) is difficult to reconstruct: "u rnga" is the word for »the charcoal« but the more interesting "rngaiñ" signifies an »illusion or dream, a halluscination« (SINGH, N 1906: 172). NOTE 2: »The red dye is obtained from the mixture of the dry bark of two shrubs, ka lapyndong (Symplocos racemosa, Roxb.) and ka 'larnong (morinda-tinctoria, Roxb.), the latter being the same as the Assamese achukath« (GURDON 1906: 60). NOTE 3: "ba riang" (Khasi, adjective), »in order; in a row« (SINGH, N 1906: 172) as in "ki buh riang ki ben ba'n shong ki briew" (SINGH, N 1906: 172) or »people on a bench sit in a row« (Gebauer, H D 2012.12.12).