SKEI, Lukha (Krem)
25.153900,92.439400
Description
NOTE 1: Brian D. Kharpran Daly had suggested the cave name »Krem Skei« which would signify the cave of »a barking deer« (SINGH, N 1906: 23) or »a barking red deer, a muntjac« (SINGH, N 1906: 185), zoologically Muntiacus muntjak (MADHUSUDAN, M D on: samrakshan.org accessed 2008.07.09): »The Muntjac or Barking-Deer, Cervulus muntjac, a small kind, deep-chestnut in colour, the males bearing short horns on bony pedicals as long as the horns themselves or longer. This is an animal of hill forest, found in suitable places throughout India, Ceylon, and Burma, and on the slopes of the Himalaya up to 5000 or 6000 feet [1524 m or 1829 m]« (IMPERIAL GAZETTEER 1907-1909, i: 235-236). NOTE 2: Lukha + Lunar = Lubha confluence (±250 m) 25°09'27”N: 92°26'08”E: 108 m (Survey of India 1922 / 1939 toposheet 83-C/SW)NOTE 3: Tongseng, Lunar valley (±500 m 25°08'40”N: 92°23'00”E) is shown on AMS sheet NG46-10 Shillong (U502 series, edition 1959) above the orographically right (locally western) bank of the Um Lunar and about 11 km in a direct line west of Khaddum (±250 m 25°09'15”N: 92°26'47”E). NOTE 4: Mahabon cave (LALOO 1995), Krem –>Mahabon, Lukha (25°09'02”N: 92°26'14”E: ca. 100 m).
A roughly 0.7 m high and 1.5 m wide cave entrance among dislocated boulders faces west and gives access to a joint-controlled subterranean estuary at the terminal end of a perennially active stream cave passage which leads flexible invaders via collapsed zones for some 205 m upstream (NNE) and across pools of water to a point with very little airspace beyond which the cave passage continues in an unknown way. ETYMOLOGY: The origin and history of the cave name Krem Skei (note 1) or, more likely, Krem Skai alias »Skai Cave« (LALOO, S S 1995b: 4) has not yet been identified but Ka Skâi is the Khasi name of a little known pagan goddess who was perceived by some as »an evil spirit who causes flatulence« (SINGH, N 1906: 185). SITUATION: About 300 m or 400 m downstream (south) from the confluence of the Lunar and Lukha (note 2), an estimated 10 m or 15 m above the orographically left (locally northeastern) bank of the Lukha River, and about 200 m upstream from Krem Æ Mahabon, Lukha. CAVE DESCRIPTION 1995: »The Skai cave and the Mahabon cave [note 3]: Both these caves are located about 7 kms from Tongseng village [note 4]. And the river Lukha passes through these caves. And in both these caves fishes are found in abundance« (LALOO, S S 1995b: 4).
Caves nearby
| Distance (km) | Name | Length (m) | Depth (m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.3 | AA CAVE, Khaddum (1999c) | ||
| 0.3 | PALTAN POUK | ||
| 0.3 | LAILUK POUK | ||
| 0.3 | LAILUK POUK, 2nd | ||
| 0.4 | MOOÏAR (Krem) | ||
| 0.4 | MAHABON, Lukha (Krem) | ||
| 0.5 | THLEA PHOK POUK | ||
| 0.5 | LUNAR, 1st (Cave on the) | ||
| 0.7 | LUNAR, 2nd (Cave on the) |