UMTHLU, Rasah 1 (Krem)

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

A collapsed cave entrance (7 m wide, 15 m long, 10 m deep) gives access to lateral extensions (7 m wide, 2 to 3 m high) towards north-north-east and south-south-east (18 m long). The SSW extension ends in collapse and crawls to daylight. The ceiling of the NNE extension (35 m long, no air draught) gradually lowers to the surface of the water (0.7 m deep): An uninspiring diving spot? ETYMOLOGY: The Synteng compound noun -umthloo- either corresponds to the Khasi -um thliew- and translates into water hole unless it is the -um- (stream) of the -dieng- (tree) called -thlu- (Botanically: Daphne papyracea), which is a tree whose bark is very useful in making ropes, etc. (SINGH, N 1906: 234). SITUATION: In the Rasah area in the east of the Pyrda plain and on the right hand side before the path enters into the karst lanes of the somewhat enclosed area of Thloo Rasah proper. CAVE LIFE: A few spiders (Heteropoda?), harvestman (Opiliones: Assamidae indet, one specimen collected by H.D. Gebauer 1102.2001 (note 1), an other specimen collected by Christian W. Fischer 13.02.2001); -snot gobblers- (larval stage of fungus gnats, Diptera: Mycetophilidae); millipedes (Myriapoda, Diplopoda, Trachyjulidae species, one specimen collected by C.W. Fischer 24.02.2001).02.2001 (note 1), an other specimen collected by Christian W. Fischer 13.02.2001); -snot gobblers- (larval stage of fungus gnats, Diptera: Mycetophilidae); millipedes (Myriapoda, Diplopoda, Trachyjulidae species, one specimen collected by C.W. Fischer 24.02.2001).