SYNRANG LABIT, Shnongrim, 1st (Krem)

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

The first of the two cave entrances and potholes (compare: Krem –>Synrang Labit 2), formerly Krem Synrang Labbit 2 (note 1), is an irregularly shaped, elongated doline (some 4 m deep at a width of 12 m or 15 m SW-NE by about 5 m or 6 m NW-SE) which lies about 50 m in a direct line approximately NNE from the vertically -lower- (since February 2004 the second) entrance. One or the other (or both?) of the two cave entrances function as seasonal insurgences (rainy season sinks), which drain waters to an unknown resurgence, and drop (35 plus 60 m) to an almost horizontal cave system (dipping 1.33% or 25 m over 1200 m to north-east) on the eastern flank of the Shnongrim Ridge. The vertically upper of the two cave entrances is likely to be the first (topmost) upstream catchment of the Western Shnongrim drain. In 2004 it turned out to constitute the top of a Synrang Labit System (Arbenz, T 2004.02.18 Mss). SITUATION (HDG 2002.02.24): The two cave entrances (note 2) lie on the eastern side of he Shnongrim Ridge, vertically about 100 m below and 800 m in a direct line a little west of south from the village of Shnongrim, in the lands belonging to U Mul, and geologically in the Kopili Limestone just below the Kopili Alternations (shales and sandstones). The entrance itself (just like Krem –>Synrang Labit n°2, Krem –>Jri and Krem –>Jri n°2) is secreted away in an area of fairly dense forest thriving on limestone outcrops and karst alleys. It is best reached by walking down from the village of Shnongrim (25°21'08”N: 92°31'04”E: 1140 m) via the grass-lands to the lower cow sheds. Near (±25 m) 25°20'44”N: 92°30'55”E turn north-east (left if facing the Litang valley in the south-east), first into a growth of fir trees, later into mixed jungle. The vertically -upper- (since February 2004 the first) entrance to this cave (Krem Synrang Labit, Shnongrim) is an irregularly shaped, elongated doline (some 4 m deep at a width of 12 m or 15 m SW-NE by about 5 m or 6 m NW-SE) mergig into two potholes and lies about 50 m in a direct line approximately NNE from the vertically -lower- (since February 2004 the second) entrance to this cave (Krem Synrang Labit, Shnongrim), which is circular doline some 8 m to 11 m in diameter. APPROACH 2004.02.14: From Shnongrim village centre take one or the other track down towards the valley for about 500 m and turn right (note 3) for a footpath leading into open meadow lands and find bamboo porch into a banana garden (plantain grove, in Khasi: brikait) from where a jungle path leads to Labit 1 (ex-Labbit 2) and further on to Labit 2 (ex-Labbit 1). Immediately as one enters the jungle, leads a ramp-like sloping alley on the right-hand side to the pitch (Arbenz T undated 2004.02.14 Mss: Krem Synrang Labit 1 2004). APPROACH 2003.02.28: From Shnongrim village continue down Shaktiman track and take first major path to right (after 150 m) down the ridge to just inside the jungle (Sheen R F 2003.02.28 Mss: Krem Synrang Labbit). CAVE DECRIPTION: A square entrance pitch (18.5 m) with ####### [culfing? cutting?] walls leads into a nice chambers (Ø 4 to 5 m) and onward into a clean rounded 2nd pitch (15.8 m) belling out into a big chamber (Ø 8 to 10 m). Both chambers are in parts decorated with speleothems. There is also a nice decorated lateral fossil [sic! more likely: relic, abandoned by flowing water] pitch from 1st to 2nd chamber. UPSTREAM: Two crawling passing into bedding planes lead to a bigger boulder chamber. Left: A wide inlet gets very low after 10 m and there is no way on. Straight ahead continues a bouldery passage to three avens, of which the highest has been climbed to 9 m without finding a way on. A very tight inlet beneath is a possible lead. Right: Muddy outlet chokes after 30 m. DOWNSTREAM: A crawly 60 m passage leads into a rift and a small stream passage from where, by a short climb up through boulders the entrance pitch of Synrang Labbit 2 [ex-Synrang Labit 1] is gained (note 4] (Arbenz, T undate 2004.02.14 Mss: Krem Synrang Labit 1 2004). CAVE CONTENTS: Fossils in the upper aven, cockles, mussels (Arbenz, T undated 2004.02.14 Mss: Krem Synrang Labit 1 2004). TACKLE: 20 m rope, 30 m rope. PROSPECTS: A not very promising lead near survey station 9/2 is represented by a very tight squeeze into approximately 3 m of squeezy bedding plane, which appears to open up again upstream (Arbenz, T 2004.02.14 undated Mss: Krem Synrang Labit 1 2004). The two caves Krem –>Jri (Shnongrim) lie 150 m and 200 m east from Krem Synrang Labit (Shnongrim) 1 and never have been entered or explored. CULTURAL HISTORY - human use: The cave is used as a bat hunting ground: Famous locally for hunting bats in the season (October - November). Nets are placed over the entrances; bamboo and leaves cover any remaining outlets. Many hundreds of bats are caught in the early evenings between 5 to 6 p.m. and either eaten locally or sold at 2 IRs per piece in nearby markets (Sheen 2003.02.28 Mss: Krem Synrang Labbi 28/02/03). CAVE LIFE: Robin F. Sheen (2003.02.28 Mss: Krem Synrang Labbit) noticed substantial colonies of large and small horseshoe (?) bats (Chiroptera). Thomas Arbenz (undated 2004.02.14 Mss: Krem Synrang Labit 1 2004) recorded the presence of more or less large spiders in addition to relatively small spiders (Arachnida: conf. Aranea). KOTTELAT, HARRIES & PROUDLOVE (2007: 43 table 2) list Synrang Labbit 1 among the caves in the Sutnga area (sic!) in which the cave dwelling, nemacheilid loach Schistura prob. papulifera (Teleostei: Balituridae) possibly has been seen as Fiona J. Ware (February 2003), who would know, is said to have noticed some in an unidentified streamway somewhere there. The problem is that actually it was Robin F. Sheen (2003.02.28 Mss: Krem Synrang Labbit) who reported to have seen what he identified as large albino carp and black catfish (Pisces) or pigmented loach. 2004.02.14 Mss: Krem Synrang Labit 1 2004). CAVE CONTENTS: Fossils in the upper aven, cockles, mussels (Arbenz, T undated 2004.02.14 Mss: Krem Synrang Labit 1 2004). TACKLE: 20 m rope, 30 m rope. PROSPECTS: A not very promising lead near survey station 9/2 is represented by a very tight squeeze into approximately 3 m of squeezy bedding plane, which appears to open up again upstream (Arbenz, T 2004.02.14 undated Mss: Krem Synrang Labit 1 2004). The two caves Krem –>Jri (Shnongrim) lie 150 m and 200 m east from Krem Synrang Labit (Shnongrim) 1 and never have been entered or explored. CULTURAL HISTORY - human use: The cave is used as a bat hunting ground: Famous locally for hunting bats in the season (October - November). Nets are placed over the entrances; bamboo and leaves cover any remaining outlets. Many hundreds of bats are caught in the early evenings between 5 to 6 p.m. and either eaten locally or sold at 2 IRs per piece in nearby markets (Sheen 2003.02.28 Mss: Krem Synrang Labbi 28/02/03). CAVE LIFE: Robin F. Sheen (2003.02.28 Mss: Krem Synrang Labbit) noticed substantial colonies of large and small horseshoe (?) bats (Chiroptera). Thomas Arbenz (undated 2004.02.14 Mss: Krem Synrang Labit 1 2004) recorded the presence of more or less large spiders in addition to relatively small spiders (Arachnida: conf. Aranea). KOTTELAT, HARRIES & PROUDLOVE (2007: 43 table 2) list Synrang Labbit 1 among the caves in the Sutnga area (sic!) in which the cave dwelling, nemacheilid loach Schistura prob. papulifera (Teleostei: Balituridae) possibly has been seen as Fiona J. Ware (February 2003), who would know, is said to have noticed some in an unidentified streamway somewhere there. The problem is that actually it was Robin F. Sheen (2003.02.28 Mss: Krem Synrang Labbit) who reported to have seen what he identified as large albino carp and black catfish (Pisces) or pigmented loach.