TOM PHIONG SUBTERRANEAN LAKE

Location

The political agent Jean-Claude White had come across springs of water, which »rush« from »two curious hollows in limestone formation which connect some subterranean lake with the river« in a setting described as »much stony barren land« (WHITE, J-C 1909 edited 1984: 117-118). Keywords: Karst, karst spring, potentialy diving spot, rising, »fair-sized« fish. SITUATION: In what appears to be a karst area (much stony barren land) in crystalline limestone occurring at the relatively large village (chief station of the district) of Tom Phiong or Tumphiong (note 1), which lies from Yangthang (note 2) upstream along the Ha Chhu (note 3) and below the »Hah monastery« (note 4). SPRING DESCRIPTION 1909: »Yangthang, a large village, is situated on the left bank of the stream [Ha Chhu] at the broadest part of the valley … crystalline limestone … After passing some mineral springs we came to the twin forts and village of Tom Phiong … I was shown two curious hollows in limestone formation which connect some subterranean lake with the river; the villagers place baskets at the outlets, and the rush of water at times brings out a number of fair-sized fish, though I saw no fish in the Hah stream itself« (WHITE 1909 edited 1984: 117-118). SPRING DESCRIPTION 1910: »Yangthang is a large village situated on the left bank of the river, but numberless irrigation channels have tempted the Hah-chu to forsake its natural bed, and much stony barren land is the result. The formation of the hills is markedly of crystalline limestone, and there are several mineral springs to be met with. The large village of Tumphiong, the chief station of the district, possesed twin forts of no particular strength or beauty; the houses have once been large and prosperous, but are now in a decayed condition. There are curious holes in the limestone formation on the left bank of the river, which seem to connect the river with some subterranean lake; the villagers place baskets at these outlets and the rush of water at times brings out a number of fair-sized fish, though none are to be seen in the Hah stream itself. The Hah monastery is situate some way up the side valley and commands a magnificent view« (WHITE 1910: 20). CULTURAL HISTORY - human use: Fish hunting ground. CAVE LIFE: Relatively »fair-sized fish« (Pisces indet.). Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 09/02/2016

NOTE 1: »Tom Phiong« (WHITE 1909: 117) or »Tumphiong« (WHITE 1910: 20) is neither shown on AMS sheet NG45-04 Phari Zong (U502 series, 1963 edition) nor in the India Road Atlas (Eicher Goodearth 2006: 27 F3).NOTE 2: »Yangthang« (WHITE 1909: 117, 1910: 20) is indicated as »Yangtang« near N27°24': E089°16' on AMS sheet NG45-04 Phari Zong (U502 series, 1963 edition). NOTE 3: »Hah-chu« (WHITE 1909, 1910), »Ha Chhu« on the India Road Atlas (Eicher Goodearth 2006: 27 F4). NOTE 4: »Hah monastery« (WHITE 1910: 20), »Ha Dzong« on the India Road Atlas (Eicher Goodearth 2006: 27 F3). Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 09/02/2016