CHILLI CAVE, Lumshnong
25.164200,92.377500
Description
What had been on 19th February 1998 a dry stream sink with an »open« (Jarratt 1998) but otherwise unspecified cave entrance (unidentified shape, unidentified dimensions, unidentified orientation, unidentified characteristics) gave access to a relatively unpleasant crawl which, at an estimated distance of 30 m or, perhaps, 15 m and less from the cave entrance, got too tight for Dr. Antony 'Tony' Boycott (Jarratt 1998.02.19 Mss: Cave Log). ETYMOLOGY: No autochthonous, indigenous or locally known name has been identified for what outsiders dubbed »Rat Shit Chilli Cave« (note 1) but disguised in Pseudokhasi words as a "Krem Soh Myngken Khnai" or »Mouse Chilli Cave« (note 2) because the cave entrance was found in what had been in February 1998 a cultivation of the small-sized variety of chillies, which is called in the Khasi language "soh myngken khnai" (literally: mouse droppings chilli) because the pods are about as large as the droppings of mice. It is difficult to retrace the derangement processes after Carlyn Phyrngap from Shnongrim (25°21'08”N: 92°31'04”E) had suggested to consider the difference between the Khasi words "soh myngken" (note 3) for red pepper (note 4) and "soh mrit" (note 5) for black pepper (note 6) combined with "khnai" or mouse (note 7) which, however, ended up as a »Samvrit Khne« (Arbenz, T 2003 personal correspondence). SITUATION: Somewhere south of Lumshnong village and west of the Jowai - Sonapur road (NH44). The site in a chilii plantation »at the end of a jungle path« had been reached in February 1998 by following the streambed downstream of the resurgence and washing place of Krem –>Umkseh (±250 m 25°09'50”N: 92°22'40”E). PROSPECTS: Promising! The cave may constitute the feeder of the crawly and bat infested inlet which enters Krem –>Kotsati from the south-west near (or even at!) the confluence of Um 'Thei Sotti (Virgin River) and Umlawan River -- some 300 linear metres are missing. CAVE LIFE: »An extra treat here were the black and orange striped Tiger Leeches, one of which made a fatal error by biting the scrawny neck of a cigarette addict. Smoking became a popular pastime over the next few weeks« (JARRATT, A R 1998: 53).
NOTE 1: »It savours of impertinence for Europeans to assert their views against the usage of other civilisations« (Longstaff, Tom G in: Swami PRANAVANANDA 1939: The sources of the Brahmaputra …- Geographical Journal ISSN 0016-7398 (London: Royal Geographical Society), vol. 43, no. 2 (February 1939), page 135. NOTE 2: The Khasi "u soh myngken khnai" or »Mouse Chilli« (Kharpran Daly, B D 1998 personal communication) is a variety of chilli in size about as small as mouse droppings. NOTE 3: u soh myngken (Khasi; noun), spelled ”u soh mynken (SINGH, N 1920: 64), "u soh-mynken" (SINGH, N 1920: 372), and "u sohmyngken" (SINGH, N 1904: 208); chilli, red pepper (SINGH, N 1906: 208); cayenne, pepper (SINGH, N 1920: 64, 372); also: "u sohmynken rakot”, cayenne (BLAH, E 2007: 44). NOTE 4: red pepper or chilli (UK English) and Chili (US English), botanically: Solanaceae: Capsicum annuum, origin (early 17th century) from "chile" (Spanish), from "chilli" (Nahuatl, the Uto-Aztecan language): »A small hot-tasting pod of a variety of capsicum, used chopped (and often dried) in sauces, relishes, and spice powders. There are various forms with pods of differing size, color, and strength of flavor …« (Oxford Dictionary 2005). NOTE 5: u sohmrit (SINGH, N 1906: 208; BLAH, E 2007: 219), u soh-mrit (SINGH, N 1920: 372), black pepper. NOTE 6: black pepper, botanically: Piperaceae: Piper nigrum, from "piper" and "pipor" (Old English), via Latin from "peperi" (Greek) from "pippali" (Sanskrit), berry, peppercorn: »a pungent, hot-tasting powder prepared from dried and ground peppercorns, commonly used as a spice or condiment to flavor food« (Oxford Dictionary 2005). NOTE 7: ka khnâi (Khasi; noun), abbreviated ”ka 'nai” (SINGH, N 1906: 137), a mouse (GURDON, P R T 1906: 201); mouse, rat (SINGH, N 1906: 34, 137; SINGH, N 1920: 329, 420; BLAH, E 2007: 194, 246); zoologically: Rodentia.
History
EXPLORATION HISTORY: 1998.02.19: Antony 'Tony' Boycott, Anthony 'Tony' R Jarratt, Brian Johnson and Fairweather W. Mylliemngap followed a jungle path to the cave entrance where Tony Boycott entered, turned around and exited. 2003 February: Carlyn Phyrngap from Shnongrim (Nongkhlieh elaka) was obviously misunderstood when he was interpreted (Arbenz, T 2003 personal communication) to have suggested the Synteng Khasi (Pnar) spelling "Krem Samvrit Khne" (note 4).
Caves nearby
| Distance (km) | Name | Length (m) | Depth (m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.4 | UMLAWAN 1: Cinema Cave (Krem) | ||
| 0.5 | UMLAWAN 1: Lake Inlet Cave (Krem) | ||
| 0.5 | UMLAWAN 1: Y-Pot (Krem) | ||
| 0.5 | UMLAWAN 1: Surprise Exit (Krem) | ||
| 0.5 | PETROL STATION CAVE (aa -) | ||
| 0.6 | UMKSEH (Krem) | ||
| 0.6 | UM SAITHET KYNTHEI, Lumshnong (Krem) | ||
| 0.7 | UMRYMPHEW (Krem) | ||
| 0.7 | UMLAWAN 2 a (Krem) |