CRACROFT's NATURAL WELL (aa -)
25.250000,91.750000
Description
An about 40 m deep pothole (without recorded dimensions or name) with a shaft descending straight down to water reported CRACROFT (1832: 253) from somewhere on the »limestone hill« (Lum Lawbah) in the »west of the Sanatorium« at lower »Chirra Púnjí« (Cherrapunjee, Sohra). CAVE DESCRIPTION (1832: 253): »an extraordinary natural well : a stone thrown into which fell into water at the end of about three seconds from dropping it« (note 1).
NOTE 1: CRACROFT (1832) plate VI (opposite page 244) »Chirra Púnjí Coal Strata« figure 5 »Section near Sanatorium« shows both a schematic »Cavern« and a schematic »natural well« formed in about 130 feet (40 m) thick »Limestone Strata« containing »Shells« and separated by thin layer of »Sulphate lime & Coal« from a capstone consisting of a coal-bearing »Sandstone.«
History
EXPLORATION HISTORY: 1832.05.23: Mr. W. Cracroft (appointed Officiating Agent to the Governor General on the death of David Scott in August 1831), Col. Watson, Mr. Rhodes and Mr. Furnell, prospecting for coal and in company with nine coolies with pickaxes, etc., were conducted to the limestone hill west of the sanitarium. Exploring the hill they came across the pothole and Cracroft reported his findings on the same day in a letter to Sir Edward Ryan in Calcutta. Extracts from this letter were published in the June 1832 issue (vol. 1, no. 6) of the Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal (CRACROFT 1832: 252-253).
Caves nearby
| Distance (km) | Name | Length (m) | Depth (m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | SOHRA SPRING (Khongsit 1997) (aa -) | ||
| 1.4 | MISSING FALLS SINK | ||
| 1.9 | MAWKHYRDOP, Mawsmai (Krem) | ||
| 2.2 | LUM LAWBAH: Doline 6 (aa -) | ||
| 2.2 | MAWRIAH, Lum Lawbah (Krem) | ||
| 2.2 | LUM LAWBAH: Doline 5 (aa -) | ||
| 2.3 | Surprise Entrance Cave (aa -) | ||
| 2.4 | DAM UM, Nongthymmai (Krem) | ||
| 2.5 | PHYLLUD (Krem) |