WAH JAHPOH (Krem)
25.178100,91.720600
Description
NOTE 1: jah (Khasi; verb) to loose, to be deprived of (SINGH, N 1906: 96); loose, vanish (SINGH, N 1920: 298, 571); disappear, elapse, pass, vanish (BLAH, E 2007: 79, 89, 216, 322). kaba jah (Khasi; noun) a disappearance (SINGH, N 1920: 125). ba la jah (Khasi; adjective) lost (SINGH, N 1920: 298). NOTE 2: poh (Khasi; preposition) behind (SINGH, N 1920: 41). poh (Khasi; adverb) meanly, scurvily, sorrily (SINGH, N 1920: 312, 459, 485). ba poh (Khasi; adjective) short of (SINGH, N 1906: 162); common, contemptible, cowardly, dishonourable, dispicable, grovelling, ignoble, ill-bred, illiberal, inelegant, little, low, lowly, mean, menial, ordinary, paltry, pettifogging, poor, scurvy, second, secondary, servile, shabby, slavish, small, sneaking, sordid, vulgar (SINGH, N 1920); low, stingy, vulgar (BLAH, E 2007: 175, 288, 328). NOTE 3: ja (Khasi; interjection) ah, oh (SINGH, N 1906: 95). ka ja (Khasi; noun) boiled rice (SINGH, N 1906: 95; OLDHAM, T 1854 / 1984 appendix C: lxvii), metaphorically: meals, daily food (OLDHAM, T 1854 / 1984 appendix C: lxvii note d). puh (Khasi; verb) to dig, peck, bite (SINGH, N 1906: 164); cut, dig, hew, peck, pick (SINGH, N 1920: 106, 122, 219, 369, 379); crop, ear, pick, spade (BLAH, E 2007: 67, 87, 223, 282). NOTE 4: In November 1995 I recorded at a populated place, which I was told to be the village of Wahlong, a poor-precision GPS waypoint near (±150 m) 25°12'29”N: 91°43'25”E : circa (±200 m) 800 m asl (WGS84 modified from 25°12'27”N: 91°43'35”E Everest 1830, Gebauer, H D undated 1995 November unstable 4-channel GPS Garmin 4). At this location, the Survey of India sheets 78-O/12 indicate the village of Mawthangsokkhyllum (edition 1912) or Mawthangsok Khyllum (edition 1937). NOTE 5: Ishamati, near (±250 m) 25°09'54”N: 91°41'20”E (WGS84 modified from 25°09'55”N: 91°41'30”E Everest 1830, Survey of India 78-O/12 editions 1912, 1937) lies at linear distances of about 5 km approximately ESE from Shella (25°10'35”N: 91°38'20”E) and about 6 km WSW from Therriaghat (25°10'47”N: 91°45'05”E). Also: Iccimati Brooks, S J in: BROOKS, S J & GEBAUER, H D (1998: 17) Ichhamati Kharpran Daly, B D (1996.04.10 pers. comm.) Ichimati Dr. vet. Harper, Rob (undated February 2001 Mss) Isamati Survey of India 78-O/12 (edition 1912)Ischamati IMPERIAL GAZETTEER (1907-1909, 11: 386)Ishamati Survey of India 78-O/12 (edition 1937). NOTE 6: plankton (English) via 19th century "Plankton" (zoological German) from "planktos" (Greek, wandering) from the base of "plazein" (wander): The small and microscopic organisms drifting or floating in the sea or fresh water. Often contrasted with "nekton" (Greek), neuter of "nektos" (swimming) from "nekhein" (to swim): Aquatic animals that are able to swim and move independently of water currents.
A SSE-facing and 4 m wide cave entrance of stooping height gives access to a likewise stooping-sized cave passage (containing stalagmites and a stalagnate) in an apparently very sandy (arenaceous) limestone. Simon J Brooks in: BROOKS, S J et al. (1998: 17) interpreted the seasonal sink as a resurgence because some water had entered in the dry season (1995.11.23) sand-floored from a stalactite curtain (speleothem). ETYMOLOGY: The Khasi cave name Krem Wah Jahpoh translates as "Lost Stream Cave" and signifies a cave (krem) characterised by a stream of water (wah) which disappears (note 1) behind (note 2). Simon J Brooks in: BROOKS, S J et al. (1998: 17), however, recorded the cave name »Krem Wahjapuh« which would signify something along the lines of a Boiled Rice Picking Stream Cave (note 3). SITUATION: The two caves on the Wah Jahpoh (compare: Krem –>Wah Jahpoh 2) are in an area which lies about 3.3 km in a direct line south of Wahlong (note 4). APPROACH: Both of the two caves on the Wah Jahpoh can be reached either from Wahlong by a two hours walk, or from Ishamati along a motorable jungle track east (note 5). CAVE LIFE: Bats (Chiroptera), white woodlice (Isopoda), small, medium and large spiders (Arachnidae: Aranea: Sparassidae: conf. Heteropoda sp.), crickets and some tiny »air plankton« (note 6) reminiscent of flies, gnats or moths.
History
EXPLORATION HISTORY: 1995.11.23: Christoper M. Smart and Lindsay B. Diengdoh, who had followed an unidentified guide (no name mentioned), visited and entered, explored, surveyed and exited: »23-11-95 Drive to Iccimati, collect a local guide. Two small caves, known [sic! recorded by foreigners] collectively Krem Wahjapuh I & II, were explored, surveyed and photographed« (Brooks, S J in: BROOKS, S J et al 1998: 17).
Caves nearby
| Distance (km) | Name | Length (m) | Depth (m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.3 | WAH JAH POH, 2nd (Krem) | ||
| 1.0 | SHONOB LIMPUT, Wah Shonob (Krem) | ||
| 1.2 | BOGDA, Shella - Bholaganj | ||
| 1.6 | KOMORA 1 (Cave at) | ||
| 1.6 | KOMORA 2 (Cave at) | ||
| 1.8 | KOMORA (Kharpran Daly 1996) (Cave at) | ||
| 1.9 | Lyndad Pyngkat (Krem) | ||
| 1.9 | MAWRAMDAH (Krem) | ||
| 1.9 | TYLLAP SPRING (Harper 2001) (aa -) |