MAWKANONG, Wah Thyllong (Krem)
25.183100,91.809400
Description
A northeast-facing cave entrance, 13 m wide and 6 m high, which is almost hidden by the embankment wall of the passing road, gives access to a west-east aligned cave passage, which, triangular in cross-section, leads after about 100 m to a barb hooked grade 4 crawl. ETYMOLOGY: Initially (March 1997) the cave was believed to be called Krem Wah Thyllong (Langspah Rynkhun, from Nongjri 1997.02.22 personal communication; Khynwin Singh Dkhar, Nongjri village headman 1997.03.24 personal communication) but this is the name of the stream in front and below this cave (note 1). In the following year, Brian D. Kharpran Daly procured from Langspah Rynkhun (1998.02 personal communication) the words –>Mawkhymlong (note 2) and Mawkanong or »Village's Rock« (note 3), which may refer to two distinct caves or to one and the same. SITUATION: On the western (right-hand) side of the road descending from the village of Nongjri proper to Nongjri Bazar, and at a place where the road, having just crossed a bridge, tries to snuggle as much as possible under a stalactite covered overhang. CAVE DESCRIPTION: The triangular shaped, up to 13 m wide and 6 m high cave entrance leads to about 100 m of linear cave passage, which is triangular in cross-section, rich in calcite formations (speleothems) and decreasing from 5 m by 5 m near the entrance to a constriction at a distance of about 50 m from the entrance. The cave ceiling is inclined by an estimated 45° towards south and visibly disappears beneath the soil and rocks covering the floor but the northern wall (upon entering on the right-hand side) is more or less vertical. The only tributary cave passage from the north (1 m wide, 2 m high), about 25 m from the entrance, is blocked by calcite 10 m in. Opposite across this northern tributary a very low crawl descending off to the south or south-east appears to continue but looked uninviting and was left unexplored. Following the main passage westwards (upon entering straight ahead) leads to the mud-floored, occasionally sumped constriction, which is an about 3 m or 5 m long grade 4 crawl (0.25 m wide and 0.6 m high) with only a small air current (at around 10 a.m. both on 24th March 1997 and on 3rd February 1998). Beyond the constriction, a stooping-sized and sand-floored cave passage intersects after some 10 m a streamcave passage. Immediately south of the T-junction (upon arriving from the cave entrance on the left-hand side), the rivulet disappears between fallen boulders and in impenetrable fissures. The penetrable part of northern branch (upon arriving from the cave entrance on the right-hand side) soon deteriorates in height and leads to a relatively low cave passage with fierce ceiling pendants. About 5 m of stream passage were negotiated and another 5 m were seen to offer no space to turn around. Could be pushed by a flexible, ample-sized, water-proof and scratch-resistant caver with someone in his back to guide -- just in case an eventual retreat is envisaged. The level of this streambed is, by the way, about 5 m vertically above that of the Wah Thyllong in front of the cave. CULTURAL HISTORY - Human use: The cave is said to be a fishing ground. CAVE LIFE: Allegedly fish (pisces) but in the mornings of 24th March 1997 and 3rd February 1998 I have seen none or, perhaps, only invisible ones.
NOTE 1: ”u [soh] thyllong” (Khasi, noun), »a small fruit which a shrub growing on the riverside bears« (SINGH, N 1906: 230). NOTE 2: The Khasi "ka 'kha" (noun) is an abbreviated form of "ka dohkha" and is the Khasi word for »a fish« (SINGH, N 1906: 24), the adverb ”ym” means »not« (SINGH, N 1906: 246), and ”long” (verb) »is; to exist; to become« (SINGH, N 1906: 118). NOTE 3: "ka nong" (Khasi, noun) is a contraction of ”ka shnong” (SINGH, N 1906: 197) and the word for »a village; a town« (SINGH, N 1906: 144) but "ka nong" (feminine) and "u nong" (masculine) is not only the word for »the resident of a village« and »a doer; an agent« (SINGH, N 1906: 144), just like verbal nouns of agency are formed by prefixing "nong" to the root, e.g. "u nong knia" = the sacrificer (GURDON 1906: 209) but also for »a hired man or woman; anything hired out« (SINGH, N 1906: 144). On the other hand, the feminine "ka nong" is not only a contraction of ”ka rnong” and signifies »the brass; the bronze« (SINGH, N 1906: 144) but is also the word for »the wages, the gain, the profit« and for a square measure covering »6 dieng by 2 dieng« (SINGH, N 1906: 144) or circa 8.7 m by 5.8 m (about 50 square metres).
History
EXPLORATION HISTORY: 1997.03.24: Khynwin Singh Dkhar, the Nongjri village headman, Brian D. Kharpran Daly, Fairweather W. Mylliemngap and H. D. Gebauer examined the cave's entrance area. 1998.02.03: H. D. Gebauer surveyed (grade 2b) and attempted to push the crawl but made himself wet.
Caves nearby
| Distance (km) | Name | Length (m) | Depth (m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | KURDROT (Krem) | ||
| 0.3 | DUKABOR (Krem) | ||
| 0.4 | LUM BNAI (Krem) | ||
| 0.4 | LUBON - LUM BNAI (Krem) | ||
| 0.5 | WAH THYLLONG, Nongjri - Therria (Krem) | ||
| 1.1 | PRIANG, Nongjri - Therria (Krem) | ||
| 1.2 | BHUBAN CAVE (Jones 1827) | ||
| 1.2 | BRAHMINES à Sylhet, Inde (Caverne des) | ||
| 1.3 | KHRIANG (Krem) |