JAPUNG (Krem)
25.213900,91.650000
Description
NOTE 1: »There are two other mountains streams called "Kawah Runnah" and "Kawah Jappong" [ka Wah Japung] to the North of Moflong [Mawphlang N25°26'49”: E091°45'26” WGS84] and between that place and Syung, which ought to be bridged …« (ALLEN, W J 1858: 61).
Two cave entrances, of which one is an apparently perennial sink, give access to what appears to be a rift cave of gravitational origin formed in what looks like an arenaceous limestone or a calcareous sandstone. ETYMOLOGY: The Khasi "ka japung" (note 1) is the word for a peculiar kind of »a mat« used with ceremonies attending death where »The body is bathed in warm water from three earthen pots and is reverently laid on a mat (japung), where it is dressed in white cloth …« (GURDON, P R T 1906: 132). On the other hand, the Khasi noun "ka ja" is the word for »the boiled rice« (SINGH, N 1906: 95) but the verb "jah" is said to mean »to loose, to be deprived of« (SINGH, N 1906: 96) and the noun ”ka pung" or "u pung” signifies »a pool; a joint« (SINGH, N 1906: 164). SITUATION (Attention: Estimated coordinates!): At a walking distance of about 20 minutes (approximately south-west?) from the village of Laitkynsew (25°13'00”N: 91°39'35”E) and a little downstream of a concrete bridge for pedestrians. CAVE DESCRIPTION: The first cave entrance, a 2 m chimney at the stream sink, leads via a short passage to a 5 m pitch into an unroofed rift (second entrance). At the base of the rift the stream enters a short cave passage on the orographically left-hand side and soon sinks in boulders. CAVE LIFE: The cave contained a variety of wildlife including a snake, leeches, »millions of frogs« (Brooks 1995.11.19 personal communication) and spiders.
Caves nearby
| Distance (km) | Name | Length (m) | Depth (m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.6 | UMBLAI 2 (Krem) | ||
| 0.6 | UMBLAI 1 (Krem) | ||
| 0.7 | KITLANG, Laitkynsew (Krem) | ||
| 0.9 | UMJASEW (Krem) | ||
| 1.0 | UMBAH 2a (Krem) | ||
| 1.0 | UMBAH 2b (Krem) | ||
| 1.0 | LAITKYNSEW HALFWAY SINK | ||
| 1.1 | UMBAH 1 (Krem) | ||
| 1.1 | UMJASEW 2 (Krem) |