MAWSIANG, Lakadong (Krang)

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

What possibly is a funnel-shaped entrance doline (closed depression), which is an estimated 10 m by 25 m across and 15 m deep, was expeditiously reduced to wide pot with overgrown floor that is ca. 10 m wide x 25 m across (and 15m deep) (Arbenz, T 2014.12.30 Mss: 25-12-2014 Krem Moosniang Scot.doc). ETYMOLOGY: The meaning, origin and history of the cave name was not identified (note 1). Thomas Arbenz preferred to create a strange mix of standard Khasi (note 2) and Synteng (Pnar) Khasi spelling versions (note 3) instead of an appropriate Lakadong Khasi cave name like Krang Mawsiang (note 4) or Krang Mawsniang (note 5), namely: Krem Moosiang anonymous Brooks, S J et al. (2014.04.05 Mss: Diary Meghalaya 2014 Second Edit: 25th February, Tuesday: Lakadong/Ummat recce) Krem Moosiang Scot anonymous Brooks, S J et al. (2014.04.05 Mss: Diary Meghalaya 2014 Second Edit: 25th February, Tuesday: Lakadong/Ummat recce) Krem Moosniang Scot Arbenz, T (2014.12.26 Mss 26-02-2014 Krem Mummum.doc). APPROCH 2014.12.26: Walk from the Lakadong-Ummat village centre (church ±5.9 m N25°11'06.2”: E092°16'07”: 759 m asl) east to the -pung- (lake) or -ahor- (marsh) called Ummat (from -um- + -khmat- = eye water; tear, tears) which was dry in February 2014. On the south side of the lake (N25°11'05.7”: E092°16'10.2”: 750 m) turn south (if facing east on the right-hand side) and proceed along a well-trodden and ancient-looking path south-east and past a spring of water with a washing place (unidentified GPS position) from where the relatively small trackway (note 6) descends past three farms to the egde of a wide expanse of -broom grass- (note 7). Here is the 26 m deep pothole recorded not only as Krang Mawsiang but also as Krang Mawsniang (N25°10'38.1”: E092°16'42.7” 671 m). The path leads now southeast and downhill, leaves the sandstone plateau behind and gets steeper, eventually reaches terrain where limestone is exposed on the surface (N25°10'38.1”: E92°17'14.0” 586 m) and entrs a picturesque area with karst pinnacles and grikes (N25°10'16.6”: E092°17'17.4”: 552 m). Having crossed the pinnacles, leave the path (N25°10'16.2”: E092°17'18.4” 519 m) and contour 100 m due east (90°) along a low limestone band to the vaulted (2 m wide, 1.5 m high) south-facing cave entrance of Krang Mummum (putatively near ±20 m N25°10'16.2”: E092°17'21.5”: 519 m). (modified after Arbenz, T 2014.12.26 Mss 26-02-2014 Krem Mummum.doc; Arbenz, T 2014.12.30 Mss: 25-12-2014 Krem Moosniang Scot.doc). APPROACH 2014.12.26: Walk from the Lakadong-Ummat village centre east through the village to the lake [pung] Ummat (dry in February 2014). On the south side of the lake, turn south (right) near N25°11'05.7”: E092°16'10.2”: 750 m and pick up a wide ancient track with a well used footpath on it. Follow this in a SE direction to get to a spring and washing place. Take the steps down and pick up an old footpath with slab-steps. Walk past three farms and stay on the track to rech a point at the end of a wide expanse -sapoh- (broom) growth. Here is Krem Moosniang Scot near N25°10'38.1”: E092°16'42.7”: 671 m (Arbenz, T 2014.12.26 Mss 26-02-2014 Krem Mummum.doc). APPROACH 2014.12.30: Walk from the Lakadong-Ummat village centre east through the village to the lake [pung] Ummat (dry in February 2014). On the south side of the lake, turn south (right) near N25°11'05.7”: E092°16'10.2”: 750 m and pick up a wide ancient track with a well used footpath on it. Follow this in a SE direction to get to a spring and washing place. Take the steps down and pick up an old footpath with slab-steps. Walk past three farms and stay on the track to reach a point at the end of a wide expanse -sapoh- (broom) growth. Here is Krem Moosniang Scot near N25°10'38.1”: E092°16'42.7”: 671 m (Arbenz, T 2014.12.30 Mss: 25-12-2014 Krem Moosniang Scot.doc). CAVE DESCRIPTION 2014.04.05: … the 26 m deep pot, Krem Moosiang Scot (anonymous Brooks, S J et al. 2014.04.05 Mss: Diary Meghaaya 2014 Second Edit: 25th February, Tuesday). CAVE DESCRIPTION 2014.12.30: Wide pot with overgrown floor, ca, 10 m wide x 25 m across and 15 m deep. Pot to be surveyed - continuations to be found (Arbenz, T 2014.12.30 Mss: 25-12-2014 Krem Moosniang Scot.doc). TACKLE: Initially required are 30 m rope or two ladders, slings, rope protector. Natural belays possible from trees (Arbenz, T 2014.12.30 Mss: 25-12-2014 Krem Moosniang Scot.doc).ch a point at the end of a wide expanse -sapoh- (broom) growth. Here is Krem Moosniang Scot near N25°10'38.1”: E092°16'42.7”: 671 m (Arbenz, T 2014.12.26 Mss 26-02-2014 Krem Mummum.doc). APPROACH 2014.12.30: Walk from the Lakadong-Ummat village centre east through the village to the lake [pung] Ummat (dry in February 2014). On the south side of the lake, turn south (right) near N25°11'05.7”: E092°16'10.2”: 750 m and pick up a wide ancient track with a well used footpath on it. Follow this in a SE direction to get to a spring and washing place. Take the steps down and pick up an old footpath with slab-steps. Walk past three farms and stay on the track to reach a point at the end of a wide expanse -sapoh- (broom) growth. Here is Krem Moosniang Scot near N25°10'38.1”: E092°16'42.7”: 671 m (Arbenz, T 2014.12.30 Mss: 25-12-2014 Krem Moosniang Scot.doc). CAVE DESCRIPTION 2014.04.05: … the 26 m deep pot, Krem Moosiang Scot (anonymous Brooks, S J et al. 2014.04.05 Mss: Diary Meghach a point at the end of a wide expanse -sapoh- (broom) growth. Here is Krem Moosniang Scot near N25°10'38.1”: E092°16'42.7”: 671 m (Arbenz, T 2014.12.26 Mss 26-02-2014 Krem Mummum.doc). APPROACH 2014.12.30: Walk from the Lakadong-Ummat village centre east through the village to the lake [pung] Ummat (dry in February 2014). On the south side of the lake, turn south (right) near N25°11'05.7”: E092°16'10.2”: 750 m and pick up a wide ancient track with a well used footpath on it. Follow this in a SE direction to get to a spring and washing place. Take the steps down and pick up an old footpath with slab-steps. Walk past three farms and stay on the track to reach a point at the end of a wide expanse -sapoh- (broom) growth. Here is Krem Moosniang Scot near N25°10'38.1”: E092°16'42.7”: 671 m (Arbenz, T 2014.12.30 Mss: 25-12-2014 Krem Moosniang Scot.doc). CAVE DESCRIPTION 2014.04.05: … the 26 m deep pot, Krem Moosiang Scot (anonymous Brooks, S J et al. 2014.04.05 Mss: Diary Meghaaya 2014 Second Edit: 25th February, Tuesday). CAVE DESCRIPTION 2014.12.30: Wide pot with overgrown floor, ca, 10 m wide x 25 m across and 15 m deep. Pot to be surveyed - continuations to be found (Arbenz, T 2014.12.30 Mss: 25-12-2014 Krem Moosniang Scot.doc). TACKLE: Initially required are 30 m rope or two ladders, slings, rope protector. Natural belays possible from trees (Arbenz, T 2014.12.30 Mss: 25-12-2014 Krem Moosniang Scot.doc).