THANGSHUNAI (Krem)

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

A relatively small [cave] entrance (KHARPRAN DALY 2006: 38) is said to give access to mostly horizontal, relic cave passages (1.5 m to 7 m wide, 2 m to 4 m high) of phreatic origin (abandoned by flowing water) and interpreted as some development on rifts. Also containing misfit stream passage in southern reaches (Elvidge 2000.02.23 Mss; BOYES, P W 2000 s.a.: 10). The cave contains secondary calcite formations (speleothems) in the shape of rimstone dams (a.k.a. gour dams). ETYMOLOGY: The Khasi cave name -Krem Thangshunai- appears to translate as something along the lines of a Lime Burner's Cave (note 1). Little doubt remains that the spelling version Krem Thanshunai created by Elvige (2000.02.23 Mss), WILKINSON (2000: 48) and BOYES, P W (2000 s.a.: 10) makes no sense (note 2). SITUATION: In an unidentified setting. The GPS position recorded for the cave entrance to Krem Thangshunai (note 3), indicates a spot that lies at a linear distance of about 1.3 km approximately north of the Nogtalang Inspection Bungalow (note 4). APPROACH: The cave entrance was reached by following the road from Nongtalang to Jowai for about 2 km, turning right at the old hospital at an unidentified GPS position to an unidentified first settlement at an unidentified GPS position. Take the second forest track just east of this settlement, propitiate all imaginable guardian angels, and head north into the forest for 300 m (after: Lizzie [Elizabeth] Elvidge 2000.02.23 Mss: Krem Thanshunai, with a nude, pale silhouette on scale 1: 1'496 as a cave plan; BOYES, P W 2000 s.a.: 10). CAVE DESCRIPTIONS: This cave contains definitely no phreatic passages [note 5] with some development on rifts but a so-called misfit stream cave passage in southern reaches. Primarily horizontal. Entrance passage 2 m high by 1.5 m wide breaking into large trunk passages 4 m high by 7 m wide. Cave formed in limestone with dried gouer pools [note 6] in floor [note 7], large amounts of speleothems (Elvige, E 2000.02.23 ss: Krem Thanshunai).Krem Thanshunai [sic!] … Phreatic with some development on rifts. Also containing misfit stream passage in southern reaches (BOYES, P W 2000 s.a.: 10).WILKINSON, P (2000: 47) gives not only a photograph of Krem Thangshunai which is said to show Pete Boyes and actually shows Brian Johnson in a bedding crawl with secondary calcite formations (speleothems), but also reports a grotesque dry phreatic passage [sic!] complete with dusty stalagmite columns. … A short, unstable pitch led into seasonal stream passage which ended in [sic! qua: gave access to a] collapse upstream; the dreaded chert bands downstream eventually pushed to a sump characterised by unspecified dimensions and unidentified peculiarities. A small phreatic entrance passage leads into a large trunk passage which goes on as rifts and a small stream passage. The downstream section ends in a sump. The cave has nice calcite deposits of stalactites and stalagmites and dry gour dams (KHARPRAN DALY, B D 2006: 8).TACKLE: 6 m ladder, 20 m rope, slings and karabiners (Elvige, E 2000.02.23 Mss: Krem Thanshunai). CAVE POTENTIAL: The downstream was pushed up to a sump and small holes in the floor could be investigated. CAVE LIFE: Elvige, E (2000.02.23 Mss: Krem Thanshunai) arrived at understanding to have Nothing observed while WILKINSON (2000: 48) narrates how One side passage showed signs of animal markings and a small nest of stones and leaves. After lots of hilarious gesturing trying to describe the animal to us we decided it most probably was a pangolin, although we remained unconvinced (note 8).ss: Krem Thanshunai).Krem Thanshunai [sic!] … Phreatic with some development on rifts. Also containing misfit stream passage in southern reaches (BOYES, P W 2000 s.a.: 10).WILKINSON, P (2000: 47) gives not only a photograph of Krem Thangshunai which is said to show Pete Boyes and actually shows Brian Johnson in a bedding crawl with secondary calcite formations (speleothems), but also reports a grotesque dry phreatic passage [sic!] complete with dusty stalagmite columns. … A short, unstable pitch led into seasonal stream passage which ended in [sic! qua: gave access to a] collapse upstream; the dreaded chert bands downstream eventually pushed to a sump characterised by unspecified dimensions and unidentified peculiarities. A small phreatic entrance passage leads into a large trunk passage which goes on as rifts and a small stream passage. The downstream section ends in a sump. The cave has nice calcite deposits of stalactites and stalagmites and dry gour dams (KHARPRAN DALY, B D 2006: ss: Krem Thanshunai).Krem Thanshunai [sic!] … Phreatic with some development on rifts. Also containing misfit stream passage in southern reaches (BOYES, P W 2000 s.a.: 10).WILKINSON, P (2000: 47) gives not only a photograph of Krem Thangshunai which is said to show Pete Boyes and actually shows Brian Johnson in a bedding crawl with secondary calcite formations (speleothems), but also reports a grotesque dry phreatic passage [sic!] complete with dusty stalagmite columns. … A short, unstable pitch led into seasonal stream passage which ended in [sic! qua: gave access to a] collapse upstream; the dreaded chert bands downstream eventually pushed to a sump characterised by unspecified dimensions and unidentified peculiarities. A small phreatic entrance passage leads into a large trunk passage which goes on as rifts and a small stream passage. The downstream section ends in a sump. The cave has nice calcite deposits of stalactites and stalagmites and dry gour dams (KHARPRAN DALY, B D 2006: 8).TACKLE: 6 m ladder, 20 m rope, slings and karabiners (Elvige, E 2000.02.23 Mss: Krem Thanshunai). CAVE POTENTIAL: The downstream was pushed up to a sump and small holes in the floor could be investigated. CAVE LIFE: Elvige, E (2000.02.23 Mss: Krem Thanshunai) arrived at understanding to have Nothing observed while WILKINSON (2000: 48) narrates how One side passage showed signs of animal markings and a small nest of stones and leaves. After lots of hilarious gesturing trying to describe the animal to us we decided it most probably was a pangolin, although we remained unconvinced (note 8).