KHATRA (Caves at)

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

Some caves or abandoned mines in sub-metamorphic rocks consisting of quartzites, chloritic and other varieties of magnesian schists reported the geologist BALL (1880 edited 1985: 84) to be harbouring wild animals near the summit of a relatively large hill (note 1) near Khatra (note 2). SITUATION: Valentine Ball reached Khatra (on 12th January 1867) by travelling from a place called Cherudih (2nd January 1867), which appears to be the Chirudih (N22°34': E086°25', Everest 1830?) from where CHAKRABARTI & CHATTOPADHYAY (1985) report deep old workings (mines). CAVE LIFE: BALL (1880 edited 1985: 84) claims to have observed leopards or hyenas and bats (Chiroptera) in January 1867: While standing at the largest cave, which, from the bones lying about, had all the appearance of being occupied by hyænas, if not by leopards, a strange and weird sound, which issued from the inmost recesses, puzzled me a good deal. At last, I guessed it to be caused by bats flapping their wings as they hung supended from the roof. This proved to be the case, and throwing in some stones [keyword: remote sensing], several flew out.pended from the roof. This proved to be the case, and throwing in some stones [keyword: remote sensing], several flew out.