TIDAL WELL, Navakkeeri

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

A closed depression (collapse sinkhole), which contains an about 9 or 10 m wide and more than 40 m deep pool, is one of the cenotes (note 1) or drowned pothole caves of the Jaffna Peninsula whose water table rises and falls in accordance with the tides (note 2). ETYMOLOGY: No locally known name has been identified for this natural well which is called after the village of Navakeery (PRIDHAM 1849, 2: 515) or Navokeiry (TENNENT 1859, 1860 vol. 1: 23), Navakiri, and Navakkeeri (note 3) where -nava- (or so) probably means new while the -Dravidian- (Konkani, Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, etc.) -keri- (kere, keeri, kiri, querem, etc.) is a tank (water reservoir), pool, lake, etc. SITUATION 1: PRIDHAM (1849, 2: 515) places the well at the village of Navakeery near Majlittle (note 4) in one Walligamme district (obsolete, unidentified) of Jaffnapatam (Jaffna Town). SITUATION 2: TENNENT (1859, 1860 vol. 1: 23) places the well at Navokeiry a short distance from the tidal well of Potoor (note 5 ).CAV DESCRIPTION 1 (PRIDHAM 1849, 2: 515): 24 fathoms [44 m] deep, and 165 [30 m] in circumference. Of the 24 fathoms, fourteen [25.5 m] are quite fresh, but at sixteen [29.3 m], the water is salt with a nauseous sulphury smell. It is thought to have some subterraneous communication with the sea at Keerimale [note 6], and the rise and fall of the tide in the well is about six inches [15 cm] in twentyfour hours. CAVE DESCRIPTION 2: TENNENT (1859, 1860 vol 1.: 23) describes not only the well of Potoor [i.e. –>Tidal Well, Puttur], the phenomena of which indicate its direct connection with the sea, by means of a fissure or a channel beneath the arch of magnesian limestone, rises and falls a few inches in the course of every twelve hours but also refers to Another well at Navokeiry, a short distance from it, does the same, whilst the well at Tillipalli … or Tellipallai, Tellipalai, and Tellippalai (note 7) … is entirely unaffected as to its level by any rains, and exhibits no alteration of itsdepths on either monsoon. DESCRIPTION 1 (PRIDHAM 1849, 2: 515): 24 fathoms [44 m] deep, and 165 [30 m] in circumference. Of the 24 fathoms, fourteen [25.5 m] are quite fresh, but at sixteen [29.3 m], the water is salt with a nauseous sulphury smell. It is thought to have some subterraneous communication with the sea at Keerimale [note 6], and the rise and fall of the tide in the well is about six inches [15 cm] in twentyfour hours. CAVE DESCRIPTION 2: TENNENT (1859, 1860 vol 1.: 23) describes not only the well of Potoor [i.e. –>Tidal Well, Puttur], the phenomena of which indicate its direct connection with the sea, by means of a fissure or a channel beneath the arch of magnesian limestone, rises and falls a few inches in the course of every twelve hours but also refers to Another well at Navokeiry, a short distance from it, does the same, whilst the well at Tillipalli … or Tellipallai, Tellipalai, and Tellippalai (note 7) … is entirely unaffected as to its level by any rains, and exhibits no alteration of its DESCRIPTION 1 (PRIDHAM 1849, 2: 515): 24 fathoms [44 m] deep, and 165 [30 m] in circumference. Of the 24 fathoms, fourteen [25.5 m] are quite fresh, but at sixteen [29.3 m], the water is salt with a nauseous sulphury smell. It is thought to have some subterraneous communication with the sea at Keerimale [note 6], and the rise and fall of the tide in the well is about six inches [15 cm] in twentyfour hours. CAVE DESCRIPTION 2: TENNENT (1859, 1860 vol 1.: 23) describes not only the well of Potoor [i.e. –>Tidal Well, Puttur], the phenomena of which indicate its direct connection with the sea, by means of a fissure or a channel beneath the arch of magnesian limestone, rises and falls a few inches in the course of every twelve hours but also refers to Another well at Navokeiry, a short distance from it, does the same, whilst the well at Tillipalli … or Tellipallai, Tellipalai, and Tellippalai (note 7) … is entirely unaffected as to its level by any rains, and exhibits no alteration of itsdepths on either monsoon.