MANICK, Laitkroh (Krem)
25.446900,91.757200
Description
Unspecified »caves« (note 1) somewhere in the vicinity of the village of Laitkroh (note 2) are said to have been used till 1830 by Bor Manick as a fortress and hide-out (note 3). ETYMOLOGY: The Khasi (Bengali loanword) "u manik“ or "u maw manik" is »a kind of a precious stone« (SINGH, N 1906: 128) but the Khasi address "manik" (manicka in Tripura) is a king's title (BAREH, H 1967 / 1985, 1997: 39). Before mercenaries in the pay of the self-styled »Honourable Company« () invaded and occupied the Khasi hills (note 4), »Bur Manick« (INDIA FOREIGN … 1862: 100-101 agreement XXVII), »Rajah Bur Manick« (PEMBERTON, R B 1835). or »Bor Manick« (GIRI, H 1998) or is said to have been the "syiem" (king) of Khyrim (INDIA FOREIGN … 1862: 84) or of the »Hima Shyllong« (GIRI, H 1998). SITUATION: In an unidentified spatial relation »near« Laitkroh (note 5), a village about 4 km in a direct line due west of Laitlyngkot (note 6) and 3.2 km in a direct line south by east from Mawphlang (note 7), which itself lies north-west above the Umiew River (N26°04': E092°16'). SETTING: »The elevation of Lailongkote [sic! qua: Laitlyngkot], according to Professor Oldham [note 8] is 5703 feet [1738.3 m] above the sea; there is a fine table land free from jungle; the soil is of fair quality for a hilly country, and the climate, which is far preferable to that of Cherra Poonjee [Cherrapunjee], being much less humid, is very healthy and apparently well-suited to the European constitution at all seasons of the year. From Cherra Poonjee to Lailongkote, a distance of about eighteen miles [29 km], there is a useful road which is capable of much improvement at a very moderate cost. There is no large river to be crossed on the route, coal and lime can be easily supplied from the village of Lyrungyo [note 8], which is about thirteen miles [21 km] distant, and provisions and other articles might be brought from Cherra Poonjee at a small expense. Lailongkote is situated on the high road which is being made across the Hills from Cherra Poonjee to Assaloo viâ Joowaie Poonjee, and it is about twenty-five miles from the centre of the Jynteah Hills …« (ALLEN, W J 1858: 81-82). GEOLOGY: »Between Lailángkot, on the south, and Shillong it [the granite] is five miles [8 km] broad« (MEDLICOTT, H B 1869: 201). CAVE DESCRIPTION 1925: »On the Wednesday [14th October 1925] I went with His Excellency to Laitlyngkot and attempted to find the caves reported to be there, but all that the Chaukidar could show me was as long valley full of crannies and holes among the enormous piles of boulders with which it is strewn. In the war with the British the Khasis took refuge there and one British officer was killed by an arrow in the face. To find the real caves (if there) would take far too long to be done in an afternoon, and it raining« (Hutton, J H 1925.10.09 - 1925.10.15: Naga Hills tour diary). CULTURAL HISTORY: »There are other … [caves] reputed around Laitlyngkot, said to have been used as a refuge when tribal raids took place« (Allsup, F W 1939.04.17 letter to Col. Penney).
NOTE 1: Little doubt remains that the »caves« constituting the "hide-out“ Laitkroh resemble those near Mairang, which Lieut. Vetch described on 9th December 1831 in a letter to Col. Archibald Watson as »caves and fissures, communicating with one another« which are formed by an »immense masses of granite, overhanging each other, or rolled together« (Vetch, Hamilton 1831.12.09 Mss in: WATSON & WHITE 1832: 79-80). David Scott confirms that »… I never saw a country in which the bow and arrow was so entirely useless, when opposed to fire arms. The only places in which they [the »Cassyas« / Khasi] can fight are holes under rocks … (David Scott, »Myrung« [Mairang], 6th May a.i. [probably 1831] letter to Mr. Lamb in: WATSON, A & WHITE, A 1832: 113-114). NOTE 2: The Khasi noun "ka kroh" signifies »holes, crevices« (SINGH, N 1906: 48) and "lait" (Khasi, verb, transitive) means »to escape« (SINGH, N 1906: 109; SINGH, N 1920: 159), »to be free« (SINGH, N 1906: 109) »to get free« (OLDHAM, T 1854 / 1984 appendix C: lxiv) but "ka lait" (Khasi, noun) has been translated not only by »the liberty« (OLDHAM, T 1854 / 1984 appendix C: lxvii) but also as »a mistake« (SINGH, N 1906: 109 binomial imitative: ka lait ka let) whilst the plural "kaba lait" (noun) signifies »an access« in the sense of ”kaba lait ban poi” (SINGH, N 1920: 4), »a breach, a break« (SINGH, N 1920: 53). NOTE 3: »Some of the fierce battles which were fought by Bor Manick were at Beltola and Mylliem [25°30'N: 91°50'E]. Their war equipments were inadequate, however, they faced the challenge courageously at a place called Mawkylla after some fighting. At last the rifles of the British overpowered the bows and spears of the Khasis. They were forced to return back to take recourse to guerrilla tactics. Bor Manick was later captured at Laitkroh, which lies between River Umiam Mawphlang and Mawreng village. There is a cave which is called till today "the cave of Bor Manick." Till 1830, Laitkroh and Laitlyngkot were still under Bor Manick« (GIRI, Helen 1998: 68 after Jor MANICK SYIEM 1984). NOTE 4: »After the conquest of the Moleem [Mylliem] country in 1829, the Rajah Bur Manick, then called Rajah of Khyrim, ceded to the British Government the Territory on the south and east of the Oomean or Boga Panee River [Umiew, Umiang]. In 1834 a proposal was made to restore this tract to the Rajah, but the proposal was never carried out« (INDIA FOREIGN … 1862: 84, 100: »XXVII. Agreement with Bur Manik of Moleem, 1830). NOTE 5: Laitkroh N25°26'37”: E091°47'55” (Everest 1830, Survey of India sheet 78-O/15 edition 1912). NOTE 6: Laitlyngkot near (±150 m) 25°26'45”N: 91°50'25”E (WGS84 modified from 25°26'45'N': 91°50'35'E' Everest 1830, Survey of India 78-O/15 edition 1912): 1738.5 m asl (or: »5703 feet« OLDHAM, T 1854 / 1984 appendix A) is the same as Lailang-kot HOOKER, J D (1854-1855, 2: 285) Lailangkot MEDLICOTT, H B (1869: 201); OLDHAM, T (1854 / 1984: 14, 26, 35, 71) Lailongkote ALLEN, W J (1858: 81, 82) Laitlyngkoi India Road Atlas, Eicher Goodearth (2006: 46: A3). »Lailang-kot is another village full of iron forges, from a height near which a splendid view is obtained over the Churra flat [Sohra / Cherra Plateau]. A few old and very stunted shrubs of laurel and Symplocos grow on its bleak surface, and these are often sunk from one to three feet in a well in the horizontally stratified sandstone. I could only account for this by supposing it to arise from the drip from the trees, and if so, it is a wonderful instance of the wearing effects of water, and of the great age which small bushes sometimes attain« (HOOKER, J D 1854-1855, 2: 285). NOTE 7: Mawphlang (India Road Atlas, Eicher Goodearth 2006: 45 H3) near (±500 m) 25°26'49”N: 91°45'26”E (WGS84 modified from 25°26'47”N: 91°45'36”E Everest 1830, Survey of India 78-O/15 edition 1912): 1738.5 m asl (or: 5703 feet, OLDHAM, T 1854 / 1984 appendix A: i) or Maflang PALMER, R W (1924: 145) Maoflang IMPERIAL GAZETTEER (1907-1909, 17: 204) Maplong David Scott (23rd May s.a. letter to Dr. Lamb in: WATSON & WHITE 1832: 97) Mauflong YULE, H (1844: 619) Mawflang PALMER, R W (1924: 143) Mawphlang Survey of India 78-O/15 (edition 1912); India Road Atlas, Eicher Goodearth (2006: 45: H3) Mawphlong RAJA RAO (1981: 75) Moflang F. (1829: 254); PALMER (1924: 145) Moflong ALLEN, W J (1858: 61, 86, appendix 3: xii); INDIA, Foreign … (1862, 1: 83); MEDLICOTT, H B (1865: 5 = 391 table, after Major Bivar); OLDHAM, T (1854 / 1984: 8) Mowphlang OLDHAM, T (1854 / 1984: 8) Mowphlong OLDHAM, T (1854 / 1984: 39) Muphlang near (±1 km) 25°24'25”N: 92°11'00”E (Everest 1830, Survey of India Half-Inch series sheet 83-C/SW edition 1922). NOTE 8: OLDHAM, T (1854 / 1984 appendix A: i). NOTE 8: »Lyrungyo« (ALLEN, W J 1858: 82) or »Lairungoo« (OLDHAM, T 1854 / 1984: 65; MEDLICOTT, H B 1869a: 13 = 163) at 1738.3 m asl (5703 feet, OLDHAM, T 1854 / 1984 appendix A: i) or 1660 m asl (5445 feet, LATOUCHE, T H D 1883a), indicated as »Laitryngew« near (±100 m) 25°19'40”N: E091°43'05”E (WGS84 modified from N25°19'38”: E091°44'15” Everest 1830) on the Survey of India sheet 78-O/11 (edition 1913), with the village centre near (±25 m) 25°19'28.6”N: 91°44'00.9”E (WGS84, Gebauer, H D 2002.02.18 GPS Garmin 12) and the main cross-road near (±4.6 m, averaged) 25°19'40.5”N: 91°43'54.4”E (WGS84, Gebauer, H D 2002.02.18 GPS Garmin 12).
History
EXPLORATION HISTORY: 1925.10.14: J H Hutton (1925.10.09 - 1925.10.15.10: Naga Hills tour diary) and »His Excellency« (not identified) attempted to identify the »caves (if there)« and the chowkidar guided him to a »long valley full of crannies and holes among the enormous piles of boulders with which it is strewn.«
Caves nearby
| Distance (km) | Name | Length (m) | Depth (m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | MAWPHLANG (Cave near) | ||
| 13.3 | LAITRYNGEW (Tyler 2001) (Par poh) | ||
| 13.4 | Saint Mary's Grotto | ||
| 13.8 | MARAI, Pomlakrai - Nongkrem (Krem) | ||
| 16.2 | LUMSHYNNA CAVE | ||
| 16.4 | RANG KATHEI (Krem U) | ||
| 16.7 | UMJASAI (Krem) | ||
| 17.1 | AA Cave, Sohra (Sud Gatphoh and Patra 2000) | ||
| 17.2 | TIROT, Lum Diengiei (Krem) |