LIEWKHA, Amarsang (Krem)
25.283700,90.996900
Description
An unspecified cave entrance (unidentified shape, unidentified dimensions, unidentified orientation), which is characterised by »an awkward climb« up or down (Kharpran Daly, B D 2012.12.31 personal correspondence) is said to give access to cave. ETYMOLOGY: The Khasi cave name "Krem Liewkha" (note 1) translates literally as »Cave [of the] Hole [of] Fish« or »Fish Hole Cave« and is, perhaps, simply a "Liew Kha" (short for Thliew Kha) or »Fish Hole« (note 2). Earlier recorded had been the cave name "Krem Liewkhla" (Kharpran Daly, B D 1997 Mss item 11) and thus either a »Forest Hole Cave« (note 3) or a »Tiger Hole Cave« (note 4). IDENTITY: Either Krem –>Amarsang or »Krem Liewkhla« (Kharpran Daly 1997) may be the same as the unspecified (no name mentioned) »lime stone cave running from Amarsang to Shikeit« or Shikheit (note 5), which Francis K. Mawlot (Nongstoin) had reported in 2005. SITUATION: In the Siju Limestone (SAINI & BHATTACHARYA 1999) exposed about 2 km in a direct line ESE from the village of Amarsang (note 6) and about 2.5 km in a direct line SW from Pormawdar (note 7). SITUATION 2012.12.20: At a distance negotiated in the course of an »1-hr walk from Amarsang village« into an unknown direction and on a self-centered person's »Left hand side of road (TATA track)« (Zawada, W M 2012 December diary page 30). SITUATION 2012.12.31: »A long way from Shillong. Coal mining has entered the area so elephants have been driven out, at least for the winter; they would all come back in the monsoons when mining is stopped« (Kharptan Daly, B D 2012.12.31 personal communication). POSITION: The GPS position (unspecified geodetic datum), which has been recorded for the entrance to Krem Liewkha (Kharpran Daly, B D 2012.12.20 11h 55 am, unidentified GPS receiver), reads »N 25°17.023' E090°59.814' distance adjusted 9 m, elev 379 m« and seems to correspond to north east format 25.28372° 090.99690° DD.DDDDD° 25°17.023' 090°59.814' DD°MM.MMM' 25°17'01.4” 090°59'48.8” DD°MM'SS.S” CAVE POTENTIAL: »The area has potential for many more caves« (Kharptan Daly, B D 2012.12.31 personal communication).
NOTE 1: »Krem Liewkhla is actually Krem Liewkha (kha is short for dohkha which means fish)« (Kharpran Daly, B D 2012.12.31 personal correspondence). NOTE 2: ka thliew (SINGH, N 1906: 227; SINGH, N 1920 passim; BLAH, E 2007 passim), also spelled: ka thliw (SINGH, N 1920 passim), ka tliw (GURDON, P R T 1906: 116), abbreviated: ka liew (SINGH, N 1906: 117; SINGH, N 1920; BLAH, E 2007), ka liw (GURDON, P R T 1906: 49) a hole, pit, depression (SINGH, N 1906: 227); aperture, channel, cut, hole, hollow, kennel, pit (SINGH, N 1920: 21, 66, 106, 222, 279, 381); aperture, bore, cavern, cavity, cell, crevice, dike / dyke, gap, hole, hollow, pit (BLAH, E 2007: 15, 34, 45, 66, 78, 114, 134, 225). NOTE 3: ka khlâw (Khasi, noun), binomial imitative: ”ka khlaw ka btap” (SINGH, N 1906: 32) is mostly substituted by the contracted ”ka 'láw” (SINGH, N 1906: 111) and signifies »a forest« (SINGH, N 1906: 32; SINGH, N 1920: 188; BLAH, E 2007: 108); »the jungle« (SINGH, N 1920: 278; BLAH 2007: 159); »the wood« (SINGH, N 1920: 596; BLAH, E 2007: 334). Synonymous with "jungal" (Hindi), "jongol" (Bengali), "jungle" (Anglo-Indian). NOTE 4: u khla (Khasi, noun), binomial imitative: ”u khla u thlen” (SINGH, N 1906: 32), is the same as ”u 'labah” (SINGH, N 1920: 529) and the word for »a tiger« (SINGH, N 1906: 32; SINGH, N 1920: 529; BLAH, E 2007: 308) or »a leopard« (SINGH, N 1906: 32; OLDHAM, T 1854 / 1984 appendix C: lxvii) in the sense of ”u 'la thoh khyrwang” (SINGH, N 1920: 529). Zoologically: Felidae, Feloideae. NOTE 5: Shikeit (shi = 1 / one; kait = plantain / banana; khait = entirely / at once; kheit = to pluck / to gather) is neither shown on the Survey of India sheets 78-K/SE (editions 1926, 1930), 78-K/15 (edition 1972), 78-O/03 (edition 1973), 78/O-3 (editions 1913, 1971), 78-O/4 (edition 1912), 78-O/7 (editions 1913, 1972), 78-O/8 (edition 1912) nor listed on nima.mil/geonames (accessed 16.11.2003) or in the India Road Atlas (Eicher Goodearth 2006 index). NOTE 6: Amarsang near (unidentified precision error) 25°17'22.5”N: 90°58'54.3”E: 495 m (WGS84, modified from 25°17.375'N: 90°58.905'E: 495 m, Zawada, W M 2012.12.13 in: Kharpran Daly, B D 2012.12.31 email "SCAN 31122012" scan 0005.tif). NOTE 7: Pormawdar (±350 m) 25°17'57”N: 91°01'05”E: 413 m (WGS84 modified from 25°17'55”N: 91°01'15”E: 1355 ft Everest 1830, Survey of India sheet 78-O/03 edition 1973).
History
EXPLORATION HISTORY: 1997.02.16-17: Brian D. Kharpran Daly (1997 Mss item no. 11) recorded the cave name »Krem Liewkhla.« 1998.02.16-17: »Nongkulang … During a recce on the 16th and 17th February 1998, members of the Meghalaya Adventurers' Association recorded the name of … Krem Liewkhla …« (KHARPRAN DALY, B D 2006 s.a.: 19).2001 February: Bill Richmond, Shillong, told Brian D. Kharpran Daly that there is a cave at Amarsang in the Balpakram / Balphakram area. 2001.02.14: Simon J. Brooks (2002.05.25 Mss) gathered from unidentified »locals« (no names mentioned) at »Nongallon« (sic!) or »Nongri« (sic!) tales about »caves« (no names mentioned) at Amarsang. 2005: Francis K. Mawlot, from Nongstoin (then phone 03654 - 222384), told Brian D. Kharpran Daly (2006.03.10 personal communication) of a »Lime stone cave running from Amarsang to Shikeit.« 2012.12.20: Brian D. Kharpran Daly »GPSed another cave: (1-hr walk from Amarsang village) Krem Liewkhla (11: 55 am Dec 20) on Left hand side of road (TATA track)« (Zawada, W M 2012 December diary page 30).
Caves nearby
| Distance (km) | Name | Length (m) | Depth (m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.9 | AMARSANG, Balphakram (Cave at) | ||
| 0.9 | CHIHPRIT, Thetja (Krem) | ||
| 3.1 | AMARSANG (Krem) | ||
| 3.5 | LIEW AWIANG (Krem) | ||
| 3.8 | MITDE DINGA | ||
| 3.9 | UMDURLIANG SINK (aa -) | ||
| 4.1 | KUBAL RONGKOL | ||
| 4.2 | DEWBAN CHIRING | ||
| 4.8 | NONGPYNIAW, Umdohlun (Krem) |