KHYNDAI JINGKHANG, Umlong (Krem)
25.183300,92.333300
Description
Altogether nine "known" but unspecified cave entrances give access to a true tunnel cave (with one abandoned tributary passage that contains speleothems), which drains a seasonal stream from an insurgence entrance in the NNW to about four or five resurgences in the SSE, which indicate the relic of a scalloped and branching subterranean estuary at several levels that has been abandoned by flowing water. ETYMOLOGY: The meaning of the Khasi cave name "Krem Khyndai Jingkhang" or »Nine Entrances Cave« seems to be obvious (note 1) when the Khasi "khyndái" (SINGH, N 1906: 39) is the word for the number »nine« (note 2) and »ka jingkhang« signifies not only »a door« but also, figuratively, »an access« (the right or opportunity to use or benefit from something) and hence »an prohibition« (SINGH, N 1906: 102). At an advanced state of caving, Anthony 'Tony' R Jarrat had discovered »… nine entrances -- as stated by our first guide« (Jarratt 1999 Mss: Cave Log, vol. 7: 13/2/99). Due to providing a set of nine entrances, this cave allows to remember the legendary "khyndái pateng ñiamra" of the Khasi people, literally »the nine levels hole« (note 3), which signifies »an infernal abyss« (note 4). Since the full name of this cave is probably "Krem Khyndai Jingkhang la Riang" or »Cave of Nine Entrances in a Row« (note 5), a short name for the stream of water issuing from this cave is probably Umriang which lead Anthony 'Tony' R Jarratt to record the cave name "Krem Umriang" (Jarratt 1999 Mss: Cave Log, vol. 7: 13/2/99). SITUATION: Unknown. At an unidentified location and in an unspecified setting which was understood to lie at an estimated distance of about a kilometre approximately north (32.3 seconds) from an unspecified point in the village of Umlong (note 6). CAVE DESCRIPTION: »We surveyed up a small streamway from the resurgence until a deepish pool full of crayfish and a crab blocked the way … We surveyed some low, dry passages to another couple of entrances and then popped up into a superb fossil passage [note 7] with sand banks, fine curtains [speleothem] and plenty of spiders. This ended after a couple of hundred metres at another entrance with great "brushes" of harvestmen [Opiliones] on the walls. A lizard was attempting to make a meal of these. Back down the tunnel checking side passages on the way. One of these went to a fifth entrance with a sixth next to it. We looped back into the cave this way and back across the main passage to a seventh entrance with evidence of fires having been lit inside. Back out the resurgence having surveyed a bypass to most of the deep pool. … sketched 21 m of passage with two entrances just to one side of the resurgence. This gave the system nine entrances -- as stated by our first guide. A fine cave illustrating that big stuff does exist in this area. Riang, in Khasi, means in order, in a row, aligned« (Jarratt 1999 Mss: Cave Log, vol. 7: 13/2/99). CULTURAL HISTORY - human use: In February 1999 the southern-most cave entrance, which seems be a perennially active resurgence, has been used as a washing place. CAVE LIFE (Christian W. Fischer 1999 personal communication): Spiders (conf. Heteropoda sp.), clumps of harvestmen (Opiliones), »dark« (pigmented) crayfish and crabs (Crustacea), pale millipedes, »brown« (pigmented) crickets, occasional bats (Chiroptera), a lizard and a sort of slug or snail (possibly Daudebardia sp).
NOTE 1: "ka kynda" (Khasi, noun) is the name for what had been »a form of corporal punishment in the old Khasi penal code« (SINGH, N 1906: 53). NOTE 2: »… in the Khasi Pnar tradition of interpretation of dreams, each individual is represented by a number … The number 7 is for a non tribal and 9 is the number for death. … All animal’s are numbered 7 except for the elephant whose number is 9. If one dreams of an elder like the daloi the number is [also] 9 … Perhaps if one understands Thoh-tim and the number associated to it then one can also have a little insight into numerology or people’s understanding of numbers and its usage in the Khasi Pnar tradition. For instance we already see the link between the number 9 and the dead and their abode« (MOHRMEN, H H 2012.06.12 : Gambling through archery.- The Shillong Times, 12th June 2012). NOTE 3: The Khasi numeral ”khyndái” is »the 9; nine« (SINGH, N 1906: 39); "ka pateng" (Khasi, noun) »a joint; a link« (SINGH, N 1906: 152), and "ka ñiamra" is one of the words for »an abyss; a hole« (SINGH, N 1906: 142). NOTE 4: "ka khyndái pateng ñiamra" (Khasi; noun), also found spelled ”ka khyndai pating niamra” (BHATTACHARYYA 1995: 16) has been translated as »an infernal abyss« (SINGH, N 1906: 39) and as »the hell« (SINGH, N 1906: 39, 142; BLAH, E 2007: 129) in the sense of »a subterranean world where evil spirits are assembled; a hell« (BHATTACHARYYA 1995: 16). NOTE 5 "[ba] ba riang" (Khasi; adjective) »in order; in a row« (SINGH, N 1906: 172), forming a line; in succession. NOTE 6: »Um Long« (Jarratt 2001.11.12 Mss) is indicated as »Umlong« on the Survey of India Half-Inch series sheet 83-C/SW (edition 1922) near (±500 m) 25°10'06”N: 92°19'43”E (WGS84) modified from 25°10'04”N: 92°19'53”E (Everest 1830). Antony 'Tony' Boycott had recorded for Umlong a GPS position near (unidentified precision error) 25°10'20.7”N: 92°20'10.2”E (WGS84, Boycott A, undated 1999 GPS Garmin 12XL) and only 850 m in a direct line ENE from the approximate (±500 m) toposheet position. NOTE 7: A fossil cave is an underground cavity that formed when a carbonate succession was undergoing karstification but subsequently was buried and infilled by neptunian deposits: Younger sediment or sedimentary rock that infills pre-existing cavities, such as grikes, dolines or cave passages, in older rocks (LOWE & WALTHAM 1995: 25). Tony [Anthony] Jarratt 1999.02.13 Mss: Cave Log 1999, vol. 7: 13/2/99) possibly wanted to say "relic cave": An abandoned, inactive cave segment, left when the water that formed it is diverted elsewhere, normally due to rejuvenation, continuing cave development and increasing karstic maturity. Relic phreatic passage segments are abandoned in the vadose zone, where they may remain dry, retaining a typical phreatic morphology, or be invaded and modified to a keyhole profile by new streams (LOWE & WALTHAM 1995: 30).
Caves nearby
| Distance (km) | Name | Length (m) | Depth (m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.6 | SHNONGRIM STREAMCAVE (Chapman 1999) (aa -) | ||
| 0.7 | SHNONGRIM POTHOLE (Chapman 1999) (aa -) | ||
| 0.8 | WAH BIR POTHOLE | ||
| 1.2 | KNAH (Krem) | ||
| 1.3 | SKAI, Umlong (Krem) | ||
| 1.3 | PAMSARU POTHOLE | ||
| 1.3 | UMLONG WEST POT (aa -) | ||
| 1.3 | NARA 3 (Thloo) | ||
| 1.3 | NARA 4 (Thloo) |