SAISIDUNG KHUR

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

A relatively small stream of water issued on 9th February 2005 from a west-facing, up to 9 m wide and 5 m high cave entrance, which gave access to a partly explored subterranean estuary at the terminal end of a partly explored cave passage which was followed upstream and surveyed up to the downstream rim of a collapse area with two bat chambers beyond which the briefly looked at cave passage was found to continue in an unknown way. The presence of driftwood in the collapsed area was interpreted to indicate an unidentified insurgence somewhere further upstream. IDENTITY: The unidentified upstream entrance in the Saisi Dung (valley) is, perhaps, the likewise unidentified –>Saishi Pouk mentioned by Zuala Ralsun (1999.02.19 personal communication). ETYMOLOGY: The Hmar (Mizo) cave name Saisidungkhur (JANTSCHKE, H 2006: 145) or Saisi Dung Khur (Bäumler, G 2005.02.09 Mss) translates literally as Butting Elephant Valley Cave (note 1) or Cave [in the] Valley [where] Elephants Hit [with tusks] ut was interpreted as Cave on the Stream where Elephants drink (Bäumler, G 2005.02.09 Mss; JANTSCHKE, H 2006: 145). SITUATION: At a walking distance of 2.5 hours without orientation from the village of Muallian (note 2) at the south end of the motorable track descending from the Shnongrim Ridge into the headwaters of the Lunar River (note 3) (modified after Jantschke, H 2005.04.17 Mss). APPROACH: Follow the path from Muallian steeply down east, cross the river Dret Kung Dung, and walk up to the suspension bridge spanning the river Saisi Dung. Follow the riverbed upstream for about a kilometre. The entrance, announced by smell of bats and a good air current, lies behind large, dislocated boulders (modified after Bäumler, G 2005.02.09 Mss). CAVE DESCRIPTION 2005a: The invasion of the cave starts with penetrating a 5 by 5 m large, clean-washed rocky tunnel, which drained on 9th February 2005 an estimated 20 ltr/sec of water. The stream cave passage leads initially east, later north and t a dry section (20 m by 2 m). About 280 m on foot from the entrance is a great breakdown dome (possibly a collapse chamber) with a bat roost. Here, the active stream is met with again but adjacent, relic rift cave passages are decorated with secondary calcite formations (speleothems). A climb across and between boulders in this Bat Chamber leads to the yet unexplored continuation of the main drag (after Bäumler, G 2005.02.09 Mss: Saisi Dung Khur). CAVE DESCRIPTION 2005b: A relatively small stream of water, which can be crossed wading, issues from a clean-washed rock tunnel 5 m by 5 m large. The passage and stream trends initially upstream east and later, parallel to the surface river, north. About 300 m from the entrance is a steeply inclined collapse area. Concurrent left of the trunk passage are dry, abandoned passages containing some calcite formations (speleothems). At this breakdown the cave splits into a stream passage on the one-hand side and two bat chambers with impressive sie and animal contents. Penetrating the collapse of the bat chamber leads along a winding route to a continuation of the stream passage. … Driftwood trapped in the collapse indicates that the cave passage continues (note 4). CAVE DESCRIPTION 2005c: 579.50 (Brooks, S J 2005.10.05 Mss: Meghalaya 2005 Survey Summary.xls).CAVE POTENTIAL: The trunk passage continues beyond breakdown / collapse in Bat Chamber (Jantschke, H 2005.04.17 Mss; 2006: 146). CAVE LIFE -- bats (Chiroptera): The stench of bats is noticeable already at the entrance and inside the cave are two chambers where both the size and the Tierinhalt (animal content) is impressive (note 5). a dry section (20 m by 2 m). About 280 m on foot from the entrance is a great breakdown dome (possibly a collapse chamber) with a bat roost. Here, the active stream is met with again but adjacent, relic rift cave passages are decorated with secondary calcite formations (speleothems). A climb across and between boulders in this Bat Chamber leads to the yet unexplored continuation of the main drag (after Bäumler, G 2005.02.09 Mss: Saisi Dung Khur). CAVE DESCRIPTION 2005b: A relatively small stream of water, which can be crossed wading, issues from a clean-washed rock tunnel 5 m by 5 m large. The passage and stream trends initially upstream east and later, parallel to the surface river, north. About 300 m from the entrance is a steeply inclined collapse area. Concurrent left of the trunk passage are dry, abandoned passages containing some calcite formations (speleothems). At this breakdown the cave splits into a stream passage on the one-hand side and two bat chambers with impressive si a dry section (20 m by 2 m). About 280 m on foot from the entrance is a great breakdown dome (possibly a collapse chamber) with a bat roost. Here, the active stream is met with again but adjacent, relic rift cave passages are decorated with secondary calcite formations (speleothems). A climb across and between boulders in this Bat Chamber leads to the yet unexplored continuation of the main drag (after Bäumler, G 2005.02.09 Mss: Saisi Dung Khur). CAVE DESCRIPTION 2005b: A relatively small stream of water, which can be crossed wading, issues from a clean-washed rock tunnel 5 m by 5 m large. The passage and stream trends initially upstream east and later, parallel to the surface river, north. About 300 m from the entrance is a steeply inclined collapse area. Concurrent left of the trunk passage are dry, abandoned passages containing some calcite formations (speleothems). At this breakdown the cave splits into a stream passage on the one-hand side and two bat chambers with impressive sie and animal contents. Penetrating the collapse of the bat chamber leads along a winding route to a continuation of the stream passage. … Driftwood trapped in the collapse indicates that the cave passage continues (note 4). CAVE DESCRIPTION 2005c: 579.50 (Brooks, S J 2005.10.05 Mss: Meghalaya 2005 Survey Summary.xls).CAVE POTENTIAL: The trunk passage continues beyond breakdown / collapse in Bat Chamber (Jantschke, H 2005.04.17 Mss; 2006: 146). CAVE LIFE -- bats (Chiroptera): The stench of bats is noticeable already at the entrance and inside the cave are two chambers where both the size and the Tierinhalt (animal content) is impressive (note 5).