Mawlai (Khongmen 1994) (Cave near)

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 24/04/2016

An unidentified but rather phantasmic »cave« (no name mentioned) was said to be »16 miles« (25.7 km) long (Victor Khongmen, Shillong - Upper Lachmiere, February 1994 personal communication). ETYMOLOGY: The Khasi number "lái" is the »three« (3) but "u 'lai" is not only a short form of "u tyllai" and is the word for »a rope« but also a short form of "ka tlái“ and signifies »a palm tree« (SINGH, N 1906: 109). SITUATION: Unknown. Somewhere in the vicinity of the village of Mawlai (N25°37'53”: E091°53'02”), which is said to lie »10 miles« (some 10 km or 20 km along the road) approximately west of the hydroelectrical power plant on the National Highay NH40 from Shillong (25°34'N: 91°53'E) north to Guwahati (26°11'N: 91°44'E).