UMRYMPHEW (Krem)
25.162800,92.370800
Description
The vertical cave entrance (5 m in diameter) and seasonal sink in steeply inclined limestone descends an estimated 10 m into an unexplored pothole of unknown depth in which the legendarily aquaphobic Andrew 'Andy' Tyler had to face the sight of deadly wet water whereupon the just about commenced exploration was instantly cancelled. ETYMOLOGY: Apparently no specific cave name has been identified for this sinkhole, which was called after the name of the seasonal "um" (note 1) or stream of water, which is not only known to disappear into this sinkhole during rains but also suspected to be characterised by falling "rymphai" or »like flowing hair« (note 2). Spirit Lamare and Worlin Lamare from Lumshnong, however, had told a cave name which Kyrmen 'Hope' C Hiwot Passah from Jowai had interpreted as »Krem Umrymphoo« (1997.03.02 personal communication) and Simon J Brooks modified all on his own into »Krem Um Rymphogo« (Brooks, S J in: BROOKS, S J et al 1998: 30). SITUATION: The sinkhole lies, according to the recorded GPS position, at a linear distance of 2 km approximately south-south-west from the church in the village of Lumshnong (25°10'46”N: 92°22'49”E) but at a much lower elevation. Just above and north of the pothole, the seasonal stream emerges from the faulted contact along a tectonical disturbance. On the northern (upstream) side of the contact, both the Umlatdoh Limestone and the underlying Lakadong Sandstone are thrust up against the Prang Limestone (Upper Sylhet) in the south. The water, which was just rising from the tectonical disturbance, deposits after a short distance downstream calcareous tufa (travertine) on the scree slope before it sinks into the pothole and disappears.
NOTE 1: ka um (Khasi, noun), binomial imitative: ka um - ka wah (SINGH, N 1906: 242), a stream [of water] (SINGH, N 1920: 500), river (SINGH, N 1920: 444), water (OLDHAM, T 1854 / 1984 appendix C: lxi; SINGH, N 1906: 242; SINGH, N 1920: 586; BLAH, E 2007: 330), fluid (SINGH, N 1920: 185; BLAH, E 2007: 106), juice (SINGH, N 1906: 242), liquid (SINGH, N 1920: 294; BLAH, E 2007: 330), liquor (BLAH, E 2007: 330), solvent (SINGH, N 1920: 484), wet (SINGH, N 1920: 589; BLAH, E 2007: 331), etc. NOTE 2: [ba] rymphài (Khasi; adjective), [noh-] rymphài (adverb) [fall] like flowing hair (SINGH, N 1906: 178) as in: u shñiuh u noh rymphài (SINGH, N 1906: 178). NOTE 3: On this occasion, Simon J. Brooks composed an indulging tale, which confuses not only the aquaphobic character of Andy with the nature of the cave and Raphael Warjri from Shillong with Dr. Antony 'Tony' Boycott and H. D. Gebauer but also narrates the events as if it had been the outsiders who took the guides to this cave: »2-3-97 Andy, Raphael, Spirit and Worlin visit a cave called Krem Um Rymphogo where they descended two pitches, reaching pools and then low wet passage whereupon the cave became too tight to follow« (Brooks, S J in: BROOKS, S J et al. 1998: 30).
History
EXPLORATION HISTORY: 1997.03.02: Spirit Lamare and Worlin Lamare, both from Lumshnong, guided Kyrmen 'Hope' C Hiwot Passah (interpreter), Antony 'Tony' Boycott (carrying one of the first 12-channel GPS receivers), Andrew "Andy" Peter Tyler, and H. Daniel Gebauer (notebook) to the entrance of »Krem Umrymphoo« (K C Hiwot Passah 1997.03.02 personal communication). Lifelined by Dr. Boycott, Kyrmen and Andy descended and returned back to the surface within minutes (note 3).
Caves nearby
| Distance (km) | Name | Length (m) | Depth (m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.6 | WAHBAH SANG (Krem) | ||
| 0.7 | CHILLI CAVE, Lumshnong | ||
| 0.8 | UM SAITHET KYNTHEI, Lumshnong (Krem) | ||
| 0.9 | PETROL STATION CAVE (aa -) | ||
| 1.0 | UMLAWAN 1: Surprise Exit (Krem) | ||
| 1.0 | UMLAWAN 1: Y-Pot (Krem) | ||
| 1.0 | UMLAWAN 1: Cinema Cave (Krem) | ||
| 1.1 | UMLAWAN 2 a (Krem) | ||
| 1.1 | UMLAWAN 2 b (Krem) |