WAH SHYNGKTAT (Krem)

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

A perennial stream / river cave with two surveyed entrance shafts (Krem Synrang Moo). The main streamway ends in a sump downstream (possibly a diving spot) and impassable small inlets upstream (Sheen 2003.02.28 Mss: Krem Krang Maw 1). ETYMOLOGY: The Synteng Khasi -ktat- (Brian D. Kharpran Daly 1996.03.07 personal communication) appears to be a version of the standard Khasi verb ”kdat” which has not only been translated as to turn sharp to another direction (SINGH, N 1906: 23) but also as to evade (SINGH, N 1920: 161). On the other hand, the standard Khasi ”ktait” (verb) means to scatter about (SINGH, N 1906: 50). It was probably Anthony 'Tony' R Jarratt (?), who said Carlyn Phyrngap (Shnongrim) opts for calling this cave Krem Wah Shyngktat (Prawn Stream Cave) but the Khasi word for a prawn is -u shymprong- (SINGH, N 1920: 393). Robin F. Sheen recorded created only several distinct names to call this Cave G (Sheen 2002.02.21 Mss: Cave G), Krem Krang / Maw (Sheen 2002.02.22 Mss: Kre Krang / Maw), Krem Krang Maw (Sheen 2003.02.09 Mss: Krem Krang Maw) and Krem Krang / Maw 1 (Sheen 2003.02.28 Mss: Krem Krang Maw 1). SITUATION 1: Sheen (2003.02.28 Mss: Krem Krang / Maw 1 G / Wah Mopud?) explains how exactly to find this cave: Follow down Shaktiman trail down from ridge to the last large open rift [deleted: in lime one] where road workers are quarrying the limestone (note 1). SITUATION 2: The pothole cave lies probably somewhere in the Krang area on the eastern side of the Shnongrim ridge. To reach the cave, follow (no distance mentioned) an unspecified Shaktiman track from somewhere on the Shnongrim Ridge into an unknown direction. At the last large open rift where road workers are eternally quarrying limestone whenever the universe happens to exist and the cave entrance itself lies in an elongated doline (44 m long, 10 m deep) with vertical walls but is easily accessible at each end. POSITIONS: AA Cave G N25°20'38.0”: E092°30'25.7” (±5 m bogus precision, Sheen 002.02.22, GPS Garmin Etrex). K. Krang Maw N25°20'38.0”: E092°30'25.7” (EPE 5 (humbug? and the whole lot copied?), Sheen 2002.02.22. K. Krang Mu N°1 N25°20'38.4”: E092°30'25.4” (Neumann 2003.02.09): 1070 m asl (barometric Thommen). K. Krang / Maw N25°20'36.4”: E092°30'27.2” (EPE 5 (fake?), Sheen 2003.02.09, GPS Garmin Etrex). est. average N25°20'38.2-: E092°30'25.6- 1080 m asl. CAVE DESCRIPTION 2000: In N/E corner of free climbable rift down 30 metes through boulders to a 7 m pitch going and draughting strongly (Sheen 2002.02.28 Mss: Krem Krang / Maw 1 G / Wah Mopud?). CAVE DESCRIPTION 2003a: Large open doline leaps down through [penetrable] boulder chokes to three sets of pitches (7 m, 50 m, 10 m) to an active stream passage. [The cave contains] excentrique stal formation [speleothems] in upper series, gours and flowstone in lower series (Sheen 2003.02.28 Mss: Krem Krang Maw). CAVE DESCRIPTION 2003b: Robin and I went to the 44 m long, 10m deep doline of Krang Moo.1 an easily scrambled down one end. From here a fairly solid boulder choke was pushed downwards for 30 m to the head of a 5 m pot. Part of this route was a squeeze dug out by Robin. … Robin descended the pitch to reach the head of a superb c.45 m pot only a few metres ahead. These pitches were collectively called Beast Pot as the first survey leg was 6.66m! Avery fine grotto full of large helictites [excentric speleothems] was surveyed and named Excentric Grotto (Jarratt 2003.02.09 Mss: Cave Log 2003: 9/2/03) [Annie, Robin, Andreas, Peter] … abseiled down the very fine Beast Pot into the main streamway. At the first junction on the right Annie, Robin and I continued the survey … Some 250 m of generally small but pleasant stream inlet was followed, past two large avens (the larger containing many fine mud pillars) and ending in a 12m aven with another 12m aven above which I reached via an interesting free climb. Further down the streamway we surveyed 100 m of high level oxebow passage endig in the roof of the main drag with a big roof tube going on and needing a rope for protection. Some interesting formations [speleothems] were found in this straight gallery. We then continued downstream to meet Peter and Andy in a huge and awesome aven/chamber. They had surveyed some 300m with the way on wide open at a climb down needing a handline (Jarratt 2003.02.12 Mss: Cave Log 2003: 12/2/03). [Annie, Peter, Andreas]: Andy and I first looked at the roof tube off yesterday's -Straight Oxbow-. Unfortunately it opened out back into the main drag after 30m but was later seen to continue high in the wall opposite –a relatively cozy climb. We then joined the others at a climb down a calcite slope to some fine stream passage unfortunately soon ending in a deep canal where wet suits or a boat would be needed. While the others surveyed I lassoed a stalagmite on the RH wall, doffed my wellies and used Peter as a foothold to climb desperately upwards for four metres in my socks; squeezingpast some 18- [c.45cm] long, draught controlled, angled stalactites I entered a low grotto with a howling draught. Two way on lead into large high level galleries heading off in two directions. A thicker rope was rigged from a hefty stal column and the others joined me to survey 500m of big, muddy inlet passage ending in a 10m aven. Some low wet passages leading to another part of the canal were also mapped and a foot-long white fish noted (Jarratt 2003.02.13Mss Cave Log 2003: 13/2/03). Peter, Andreas, Annie … surveyed the RH series from the dry junction –some 200m of high level breakdownchambers formed along a major fault with deep canal passages below. At the end we were stopped by a huge boulder which needed a ladder to descend 6m into the high, narrow river passage leading temptingly onwards. I tried to free climb down and got halfway when an overhang nearly caused my literal downfall and I desperately struggled back up. … on the way out I climbed up to an aven where the cailing bre tube surveyed on 12/2/03 [sentence finish! for: was gained?]. The bore tube does not continue (Jarratt 2003.02.17 Mss: Cave Log 2003: 17/2/03). CAVE LIFE: Sheen (2003.02.28 Mss: Krem Krang Maw) recorded bats (Chiroptera), prawns (Crustacea) and cave fish (Pisces). Jarratt (2003.02.13 Mss: Cave log 2003: 3/2/13) saw in the Canal a foot-long white (pale) fish. KOTTELAT, HARRIES & PROUDLOVE (2007: 43 table 2) list Krem Wah Shyngktat among the caves in the Sutnga area (sic!) in which the cave dwelling, nemacheilid loach Schistura prob. papulifera (Pisces: Teleostei: Balituridae) possibly has been seen as A. Neumann, Feb 2003, photographed.re tube surveyed on 12/2/03 [sentence finish! for: was gained?]. The bore tube does not continue (Jarratt 2003.02.17 Mss: Cave Log 2003: 17/2/03). CAVE LIFE: Sheen (2003.02.28 Mss: Krem Krang Maw) recorded bats (Chiroptera), prawns (Crustacea) and cave fish (Pisces). Jarratt (2003.02.13 Mss: Cave log 2003: 3/2/13) saw in the Canal a foot-long white (pale) fish. KOTTELAT, HARRIES & PROUDLOVE (2007: 43 table 2) list Krem Wah Shyngktat among the caves in the Sutnga area (sic!) in which the cave dwelling, nemacheilid loach Schistura prob. papulifera (Pisces: Teleostei: Balituridae) possibly has been seen as A. Neumann, Feb 2003, photographed.