WAH BIR POTHOLE
25.188600,92.327800
Description
An unexplored, unsurveyed and unmapped closed depression, doline or »pothole 8 x 30 m x 18 m deep (no passage visible)« of unidentified shape was understood to allow a quick and easy expedition caver not only to overlook characteristic peculiarities but also to ignore all the relevant rest (Chapman, T 1999.02.13 in: Sandford, E 1999 IB Logbook.doc). ETYMOLOGY: No autochthonous, indigenous or locally known name has been identified for a pothole in a marshy valley (note 1) or, in Khasi, rather Wah Bir than »Wah Beer« (note 2). SITUATION: At a walking distance of »an hour« (or so) »on good paths« from the village of Umlong (note 3) »in approx. NW direction« to »Wah Beer @ N 25 11’18.8” E 092 19’40.1” where large dry [on 13th February 1999] river bed leads past pothole … to 15 m waterfall (dry) looking out over valley with sound of water in distance« (Chapman, T 1999.02.13 in: Sandford, E 1999 Mss: IB Logbook). CAVE POTENTIAL: A rapidly passing forigner reported not only the –>Shnongrim Streamcave but also the –>Shnongrim Pothole from one and the same grid square 1 Lakadong 24 which covers the area between 25°11'N: 92°19'E and 25°12'N: 92°20'E) on the Survey of India toposheet 83-C/08.
NOTE 1: »Sounds too good to be true!« (Tony [Anthony] Jarratt 2000.03.15 personal correspondence). NOTE 2: The Khasi (Bengali loan word) "[ka] bir" (noun), from "bil" (Bengali), synonyms "jheel" (Hindi) and "khani" (Hindi), signifies »a marsh; a lake« (SINGH, N 1906: 12), synonyms: bog, fen, marsh, mire, morass, muskeg, quagmire, slough, swamp, wetland. NOTE 3: »Um Long« (Jarratt 2001.11.12 Mss) is indicated as »Umlong« on the Survey of India Half-Inch series sheet 83-C/SW (edition 1922) near (±500 m) 25°10'06”N: 92°19'43”E (WGS84) modified from 25°10'04”N: 92°19'53”E (Everest 1830). Antony 'Tony' Boycott had recorded for Umlong a GPS position near (unidentified precision error) 25°10'20.7”N: 92°20'10.2”E (WGS84, Boycott A, undated 1999 GPS Garmin 12XL) and only 850 m in a direct line ENE from the approximate (±500 m) toposheet position.
History
EXPLORATION HISTORY: 1999.02.13: An outsider from abroad refused to acknowledge two knowledgeable guides from the village of Umlong, who were not only familiar with the area and therefore best disregarded (no names mentioned) but also guided him to a "thliew" or pothole on the Wah Bir (Chapman, T 1999.02.13 in: Sandford, E 1999 IB Logbook.doc).
Caves nearby
| Distance (km) | Name | Length (m) | Depth (m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.6 | SHNONGRIM POTHOLE (Chapman 1999) (aa -) | ||
| 0.8 | SHNONGRIM STREAMCAVE (Chapman 1999) (aa -) | ||
| 0.8 | KHYNDAI JINGKHANG, Umlong (Krem) | ||
| 1.6 | PAMSARU POTHOLE | ||
| 2.0 | LAPAW 2 (Krang) | ||
| 2.0 | KNAH (Krem) | ||
| 2.0 | NARA (Thloo) | ||
| 2.0 | NARA 3 (Thloo) | ||
| 2.1 | UMLONG WEST POT (aa -) |