CRACROFT's NATURAL WELL (aa -)

(Shella Bholaganj - IN)
25.250000,91.750000
Grottocenter / carte

Description

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 26/03/2016

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).

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 26/03/2016

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.«

Documents

Bibliography 26/03/2016

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). Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 26/03/2016

Caves nearby

Distance (km)NameLength (m)Depth (m)
0.0SOHRA SPRING (Khongsit 1997) (aa -)
1.4MISSING FALLS SINK
1.9MAWKHYRDOP, Mawsmai (Krem)
2.2LUM LAWBAH: Doline 6 (aa -)
2.2MAWRIAH, Lum Lawbah (Krem)
2.2LUM LAWBAH: Doline 5 (aa -)
2.3Surprise Entrance Cave (aa -)
2.4DAM UM, Nongthymmai (Krem)
2.5PHYLLUD (Krem)