WAH MYNTNGAM (Krem)

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

In addition to a second cave entrance (see: Krem Wah Myntngam 2), which especially self centered sportsmen were capable of identifying as the exit (Brooks, S J 2009.06.07 anonymous Mss: Krem Wah Myntngam …) or the exits (Arbenz, T 2010.01.01 Mytngamplan_1000.ai), the somewhat -first- cave entrance to Krem Wah Myntngam is clearly mind-boggling as it is, on the one hand side, comparatively small (note 1), on the other hand obvious but then, on the third hand side, said to have collapsed and, on top of that, not only said to measure an estimated w3m x h1.8m (note 2) but also claimed to be a funny 3 by 1.8 m wide (note 3). For sure, however, this cave entrance faces south (Arbenz, T 2009 Mytngamplan_1000.ai forwarded 2010.01.01), which is, of course, an inexplicable direction (note 4), represents a seasonally active sinkhole, and leads to a true tunnel cave where the insurgence entrance communicates with a downstream entrance (note 5), the Krem Wah Myntngam 2. In one way or an other, someside passages were understood to give access to the Krem Wah Myntngam resurgence, the –>Salang Spring Cave, which some jokers happily christened Salang Resurgence (sic!). The cave is said to be mostly horizontal (Brooks 2009.03.10 Mss: Overview 2009) and inactive except for high water conditions in the wet season (Brooks 2009.06.07 Mss: Krem Wan Myhtngam) or now largely inactive except for high water conditions in wet season (Anonymous 2009.06.07 Mss: Krem Wah Myntngam …). ETYMOLOGY: The indigenous cave name is perhaps Krem Myn'ngam (Cave [on the] Sinking / Plunging Stream) or Krem Myn'ngam Um (Cave [on the] Stream [of the] Water-ordeal?) and the explosive sound -t- was only heard (or pronounced?) for the sake of emphazising the minute gap between -myn- and -ngam-. The Synteng (Khasi) -ka myn-, generally pronounced ”ka myng”, is the same as the standard Khasi -ka wah- and signifies a stream or a river (note 6) but the morphem -tngam- is difficult to interprete unless it a) derivesfrom the standard Khasi verb ”ngam” and translates as to sink, to plunge (SINGH, N 1906: 77), b) is an abbreviation of the standard Khasi verb -ngam um” and means not only to dive but also to decide by water ordeal (SINGH, N 1906: 77) as the noun -ka ngam um- signifies a water ordeal (note 7); b) -tngam- is a contraction of the standard Khasi noun ”ka tyng-am” or -ka t'ngam- and means the jawbone (SINGH, N 1906: 237). Little doubt remains that the cave is named after the stream. So far, I saw the name of this stream and the consecutive cave spelled or misspelled as (note 8) Krem Myntngam Brooks, S J (2014.04.05 Mss: Diary Meghalaya 2014 Second Edit: 4th February Tuesday); MAZUMDAR & DUTTA (2009) Wah Mitingam Anonymous et al. (2010.03.29 Mss: Diary (current) 2010.doc: 10th February) Wan Myhtngam (note 9) Brooks (2009.03.10 Mss: Overview 2009); Brooks (2009.06.07 Mss: Krem Wan Myhtngam) wah myhtNgam Rockcliff (2009.02.17 Mss: Krem Salang, resurgence) Wah Myntem Anonymous et al. (2010.3.29 Mss: Diary (current) 2010.doc: 10th February) Wah Myntgam Anonymous et al. (2010.03.29 Mss: Diary (current) 2010.doc) Wah Myntngam Anonymous (2009.06.07 Mss: Krem Wah Myntngam …); Brooks (2009.03.10 Mss: Overview 2009); Brooks (2009.06.07 Mss: Krem Salang Sink); Brooks (2009.06.07 Mss amendment to Rockcliff 2009.02.17 Mss: Krem Salang resurgence); Brooks, S J et al. (2009 Mss: Diary 2009.doc Saturday 21st); Rockcliff (2009.02.17 Mss: Krem Salang resurgence) Wah Mytngam Arbenz, T (2009.06.01 Mss: total 2009.xls); Arbenz, T (2009.06.11 cave distribution map: Pala_Ridge_09-3.pdf); Brooks, S J et al. (2009 Mss: Diary 2009.doc Tuesday 17th); Anonymous et al. (2010.03.29 Mss: Diary (current) 2010.doc: 12th February); Sandford (2010.04.16 Mss: Caves 'n' Corals: 12th February). SITUATION: About 775 m in a direct line approximately south-east from the central road junction (25°26'04”N: 92°34'48”E: 782 m) in the village of Umkyrpong (note 10) and above the west (orographically left bank of a so-called the river valley (Brooks, S J et al. 2009 Mss: Diary 2009.doc: Tuesday 17th) without identified name (Umkyrpong?). APPROACH 2010 (circa 2010 March): Anonymous (2009.06.07 Mss: Krem Wah Myntngam …): From the direction of Umkhyrpong [sic!] cross the Footbal [sic! probabile qua: football] pitch [note 11] on southern [sic! qua: northern] side of [the] village follow the GPS [receiver] to N25°25'47.2”: E092°34'50.4” essentially diagonally across the field from the point of entry. At this point [of entry? no: opposite diagonally across!] the path forks --take the left branch [without identified direction]. Cross a seasonal streambed [without identified name at a point without identified GPS position]. Turn left [without identified direction] and follow right-hand bank (looking downstream) [without identified direction] to reach the obvious cave entrance [which lies] above [without identified distance and direction] the GPS position N25°25'27.4”: E092°35'01.0” [uspecified geodetic datum probably WGS84]. A further access is to cross [an unidentified] the stream bed [at a point without identified GPS position] and follow [an unspecified] path to reach [the entrance to the Salang Spring Cave) which is the exit [sic! qua: the second cave entrance] of Krem Wah Myntngam. APPROACH 2009 (circa 2009 March): Brooks (2009.06.07 Mss: Krem Wah Myntngam): From Umkyrpong village head south [sic! qua: north] to reach the village football pitch / field and head, essentially diagonally across the field, to point N25°25'47.2”: E092°34'50.4” where a path forks. Go left [sic! without orientation] and cross a seasonal streambed [without identified name] after which go left [sic! without orientation] and follow right-hand (looking downstream) bank to reach [the] obvious cave entrance at [sic! for: at it's best ±18 m near] above GPS point. CAVE DESCRIPTION 2010.03 (circa 2010 March): Anonymous (2009.06.07 Mss: Krem Wah Myntngam …): The [relatively] small, yet bvious collapsed stream sink entrance of w3m x h1.8m gives access to a [relatively] larger [cave] passage. The [relatively] large main passage (8m x 4m) runs generally NE / E for 45 m where it then turns to the east for 90 m. There is an un-pushed side passage on the east wall. The [main cave] passage turns south and then SE for 80 m. The final section of the [main cave] passage (100 m) is a fine 10 m x 5 m tube that runs SE to the Krem Salang Resurgence which is the exit [sic! qua: resurgence cave entrance] of Krem Wah Myntngam. The passage contains much flowstone and impressive stalactites and pillars, both of which fill [sic! qua: occur in] the [cave] passage. CAVE DESCRIPTION 2010.06: Arbenz, T (2010.06..29 Mss -Re: ML 2010 Krem Salang- personal correspondence) described the so-called Krem Wah Myntngam Extensions as cave passages [generally 5 m vertically below the level of the tunnel cave passage between Krem Wah Myntngam and Salang Spring cave] of smaller dimensions, leading towrds north-east, in addition to a cave passage off to the north-west (note 12). CAVE DESCRIPTION 2010.04.10: MAZUMDAR & DUTTA (2010.04.10): Krem Myntngam … turns out to be a difficult cave; we have to climb, jump, squeeze past and slither over rocks and boulders, and a green bamboo viper that David assures me (unconvincingly) is harmless. After half an hour of such arduous traversing, we reach a stretch that is a cave lake. Krem Myntngam, though not as beautiful as Krem Blang [i.e. Krem –>Blang, Umkyrpong], has some really mesmerising sights --apart from the usual stalactites, stalagmites and other enthralling formations, there was the element of adventure here. And the lake, under which lie more unexplored treasures. CAVE DESCRIPTION 2009.06: Arbenz, T (2009.06.06 Mss: Re Mühdngam): … grosser offener Schacht, wo in der Regenperiode das Wasser hinunterstürzt in den von oben sichtbaren Höhlenbach (A relatively large and comparatively wide open pothole with a stream cave passage visible rom above into which, during the rainy season, water falls down). CAVE DESCRIPTION 2009.03 (circa 2009 March): Brooks (2009.06.07 Mss: Krem Wan Myhtngam): Small yet obvious collapsed stream sink entrance 3 m by 1.8 m quickly opens to 8 or 9 m by 3.5 or 4.5 m passage that runs generally NE or E for 45 m where it then turns to the east for 90 m (unpushed side passage on left / east wall). The passage runs south and then SE for 80 m. The final section of the passage (100 m) is a fine 10 m by 5 m tube that runs SE to the Krem Salang 2 resurgence entrance. The passage contains much flowstone, stalagmites, and stalactites, particularly the final section that contains an impressive stalactite and pillar, both of which fill the passage. Brooks (2009.03.10 Mss: Overview 2009): Krem Wah Mytngam … proved to be a mix of large dry horizontal passage or river passage that required some significant swims to explore. CAVE CONTENTS (Brooks 2009.06.07 Mss: Krem Wan Myhtngam): Speleothems, flowstone, [rlatively] large [note 13] dry stalictites [probably stalactites], dry gours. [unspecified] Sediments; [relatively] large slabs, boulders without identified dimensions or comparison for scale. SPELEOMETRY 2010.07.03: The total survey length of the cave passages connecting Krem Wah Myntngam 1 (upper entrance), Krem Wah Myntngam 2 (lower entrance) and Krem Salang Spring is 865.85 m at a vertical range of ±11.84 m (+0.00 m / -11.84 m) (Arbenz, T 2010.07.03 -Krem Wah Myntngam_03.Text- survey data file). SPELEOMETRY 2010.02: Anonymous (2010 Meghalaya Cave Record -Krem Wah Myntngam (also Krem Salang Resurgence) alternative name: none known- dated [sic!] 07.06.2009) claims a survey length of 406.288 m at a space warping vertical range of ±10.23 m (-19.78 m / +0 m). SPELEOMETRY 2009.06.01: Arbenz, T (2009.06.01 Mss: total 2009.xls) lists from Wah Mytngam a survey length of 406.88 m (17.02.2009) at a vertical range of ±19.78 m (+19.78 m / -0.00 m) which can be expected to have been confused wit a vertical range of ±19.78 m (+0.00 m / -19.78 m). SPELEOMETRY 2009.03.10: Brooks (2009.03.10 Mss: Overview 2009): Krem Wah Mytngam 406 m. SPELEOMETRY 2009.02.17: H. Rockcliff confuses cave passage length with cave survey length when claiming 407 m of passage (Brooks, S J et al. 2009 Mss: Diary 2009.doc: Tuesday 17th). CAVE LIFE: Brooks (2009.06.07 Mss: Krem Wan Myhtngam) mentions cave crickets but probably meant some crickets (Orthoptera) inside the cave. MAZUMDAR & DUTTA (2009) encountered in Krem Myntngam … a green bamboo viper that David assures me (unconvincingly) is harmless.latively] large [note 13] dry stalictites [probably stalactites], dry gours. [unspecified] Sediments; [relatively] large slabs, boulders without identified dimensions or comparison for scale. SPELEOMETRY 2010.07.03: The total survey length of the cave passages connecting Krem Wah Myntngam 1 (upper entrance), Krem Wah Myntngam 2 (lower entrance) and Krem Salang Spring is 865.85 m at a vertical range of ±11.84 m (+0.00 m / -11.84 m) (Arbenz, T 2010.07.03 -Krem Wah Myntngam_03.Text- survey data file). SPELEOMETRY 2010.02: Anonymous (2010 Meghalaya Cave Record -Krem Wah Myntngam (also Krem Salang Resurgence) alternative name: none known- dated [sic!] 07.06.2009) claims a survey length of 406.288 m at a space warping vertical range of ±10.23 m (-19.78 m / +0 m). SPELEOMETRY 2009.06.01: Arbenz, T (2009.06.01 Mss: total 2009.xls) lists from Wah Mytngam a survey length of 406.88 m (17.02.2009) at a vertical range of ±19.78 m (+19.78 m / -0.00 m) which can be expected to have been confused witlatively] large [note 13] dry stalictites [probably stalactites], dry gours. [unspecified] Sediments; [relatively] large slabs, boulders without identified dimensions or comparison for scale. SPELEOMETRY 2010.07.03: The total survey length of the cave passages connecting Krem Wah Myntngam 1 (upper entrance), Krem Wah Myntngam 2 (lower entrance) and Krem Salang Spring is 865.85 m at a vertical range of ±11.84 m (+0.00 m / -11.84 m) (Arbenz, T 2010.07.03 -Krem Wah Myntngam_03.Text- survey data file). SPELEOMETRY 2010.02: Anonymous (2010 Meghalaya Cave Record -Krem Wah Myntngam (also Krem Salang Resurgence) alternative name: none known- dated [sic!] 07.06.2009) claims a survey length of 406.288 m at a space warping vertical range of ±10.23 m (-19.78 m / +0 m). SPELEOMETRY 2009.06.01: Arbenz, T (2009.06.01 Mss: total 2009.xls) lists from Wah Mytngam a survey length of 406.88 m (17.02.2009) at a vertical range of ±19.78 m (+19.78 m / -0.00 m) which can be expected to have been confused witlatively] large [note 13] dry stalictites [probably stalactites], dry gours. [unspecified] Sediments; [relatively] large slabs, boulders without identified dimensions or comparison for scale. SPELEOMETRY 2010.07.03: The total survey length of the cave passages connecting Krem Wah Myntngam 1 (upper entrance), Krem Wah Myntngam 2 (lower entrance) and Krem Salang Spring is 865.85 m at a vertical range of ±11.84 m (+0.00 m / -11.84 m) (Arbenz, T 2010.07.03 -Krem Wah Myntngam_03.Text- survey data file). SPELEOMETRY 2010.02: Anonymous (2010 Meghalaya Cave Record -Krem Wah Myntngam (also Krem Salang Resurgence) alternative name: none known- dated [sic!] 07.06.2009) claims a survey length of 406.288 m at a space warping vertical range of ±10.23 m (-19.78 m / +0 m). SPELEOMETRY 2009.06.01: Arbenz, T (2009.06.01 Mss: total 2009.xls) lists from Wah Mytngam a survey length of 406.88 m (17.02.2009) at a vertical range of ±19.78 m (+19.78 m / -0.00 m) which can be expected to have been confused witlatively] large [note 13] dry stalictites [probably stalactites], dry gours. [unspecified] Sediments; [relatively] large slabs, boulders without identified dimensions or comparison for scale. SPELEOMETRY 2010.07.03: The total survey length of the cave passages connecting Krem Wah Myntngam 1 (upper entrance), Krem Wah Myntngam 2 (lower entrance) and Krem Salang Spring is 865.85 m at a vertical range of ±11.84 m (+0.00 m / -11.84 m) (Arbenz, T 2010.07.03 -Krem Wah Myntngam_03.Text- survey data file). SPELEOMETRY 2010.02: Anonymous (2010 Meghalaya Cave Record -Krem Wah Myntngam (also Krem Salang Resurgence) alternative name: none known- dated [sic!] 07.06.2009) claims a survey length of 406.288 m at a space warping vertical range of ±10.23 m (-19.78 m / +0 m). SPELEOMETRY 2009.06.01: Arbenz, T (2009.06.01 Mss: total 2009.xls) lists from Wah Mytngam a survey length of 406.88 m (17.02.2009) at a vertical range of ±19.78 m (+19.78 m / -0.00 m) which can be expected to have been confused witlatively] large [note 13] dry stalictites [probably stalactites], dry gours. [unspecified] Sediments; [relatively] large slabs, boulders without identified dimensions or comparison for scale. SPELEOMETRY 2010.07.03: The total survey length of the cave passages connecting Krem Wah Myntngam 1 (upper entrance), Krem Wah Myntngam 2 (lower entrance) and Krem Salang Spring is 865.85 m at a vertical range of ±11.84 m (+0.00 m / -11.84 m) (Arbenz, T 2010.07.03 -Krem Wah Myntngam_03.Text- survey data file). SPELEOMETRY 2010.02: Anonymous (2010 Meghalaya Cave Record -Krem Wah Myntngam (also Krem Salang Resurgence) alternative name: none known- dated [sic!] 07.06.2009) claims a survey length of 406.288 m at a space warping vertical range of ±10.23 m (-19.78 m / +0 m). SPELEOMETRY 2009.06.01: Arbenz, T (2009.06.01 Mss: total 2009.xls) lists from Wah Mytngam a survey length of 406.88 m (17.02.2009) at a vertical range of ±19.78 m (+19.78 m / -0.00 m) which can be expected to have been confused witlatively] large [note 13] dry stalictites [probably stalactites], dry gours. [unspecified] Sediments; [relatively] large slabs, boulders without identified dimensions or comparison for scale. SPELEOMETRY 2010.07.03: The total survey length of the cave passages connecting Krem Wah Myntngam 1 (upper entrance), Krem Wah Myntngam 2 (lower entrance) and Krem Salang Spring is 865.85 m at a vertical range of ±11.84 m (+0.00 m / -11.84 m) (Arbenz, T 2010.07.03 -Krem Wah Myntngam_03.Text- survey data file). SPELEOMETRY 2010.02: Anonymous (2010 Meghalaya Cave Record -Krem Wah Myntngam (also Krem Salang Resurgence) alternative name: none known- dated [sic!] 07.06.2009) claims a survey length of 406.288 m at a space warping vertical range of ±10.23 m (-19.78 m / +0 m). SPELEOMETRY 2009.06.01: Arbenz, T (2009.06.01 Mss: total 2009.xls) lists from Wah Mytngam a survey length of 406.88 m (17.02.2009) at a vertical range of ±19.78 m (+19.78 m / -0.00 m) which can be expected to have been confused wit a vertical range of ±19.78 m (+0.00 m / -19.78 m). SPELEOMETRY 2009.03.10: Brooks (2009.03.10 Mss: Overview 2009): Krem Wah Mytngam 406 m. SPELEOMETRY 2009.02.17: H. Rockcliff confuses cave passage length with cave survey length when claiming 407 m of passage (Brooks, S J et al. 2009 Mss: Diary 2009.doc: Tuesday 17th). CAVE LIFE: Brooks (2009.06.07 Mss: Krem Wan Myhtngam) mentions cave crickets but probably meant some crickets (Orthoptera) inside the cave. MAZUMDAR & DUTTA (2009) encountered in Krem Myntngam … a green bamboo viper that David assures me (unconvincingly) is harmless.