SHKEN, Shnongrim (Krem poh)

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

Inside a closed depression, which has been named after a stand of -shken- (a small species of bamboo, Bambusa var.), a narrow sinkhole entrance (about a metre wide and 1.4 m high) gives access to a blockage of boulders and gravel with no way on in February 2005. ETYMOLOGY: The Khasi -poh- means below, under, short of and -u shken- is a small kind of bamboo (SINGH, N 1906: 192). The alternative cave names Krem Pohchkenchapoh goer Ladow (note 1), Krem Potchken Ladaw (note 2), Krem Pochkem Ladous (note 3), and Krem Poh Shken Ladaw (note 4) are interesting and difficult to reconstruct but challenging to interprete (note 5). SITUATION: At an unexplainable location somewhere in the vicinity of the village of Shnongrim (WGS84 N25°21'08”: E92°31'04”: 1140 m asl). APPROACH (Arbenz, T 2008 Mss -Fieldbook- page 84): Starting at, take the footpath approximately south to the level valley ground (pynthor) of the Wah Shikar (N25°21'18”: E92°32'22”) up to the location of the cave christened i honour of the driver nicknamed Bun (Krem Arlein, Krem Wah Rylien, N25°21'12.7”: E92°31'23.0”). Here, a longer slope leads to a first paddy field north of the path. Cross the field in a northerly direction for what had been in February 2005 a bri (plantation) inside a closed depression with a narrow sinkhole entrance. CAVE DESCRIPTION (after Arbenz, T 2008 Mss -Fieldbook- page 84): A narrow sinkhole entrance gives access to a meander (on average 1 by 1.4 m in size) descending gradually to the head of a 4 m diameter deep pitch 7 m down to boulders and gravel. With the exception of 3 m squeeze down into the blockage, there had been no way on in February 2005.Inside a closed depression, which has been named after a stand of -shken- (a small species of bamboo, Bambusa var.), a narrow sinkhole entrance (about a metre wide and 1.4 m high) gives access to a blockage of boulders and gravel with no way on in February 2005. ETYMOLOGY: The Khasi -poh- means below, under, short of and -u shken- is a small kind of bamboo (SINGH, N 1906: 192). The alternative cave names Krem Pohchkenchapoh goer Ladow (note 1), Krem Potchken Ladaw (note 2), Krem Pochkem Ladous (note 3), and Krem Poh Shken Ladaw (note 4) are interesting and difficult to reconstruct but challenging to interprete (note 5). SITUATION: At an unexplainable location somewhere in the vicinity of the village of Shnongrim (WGS84 N25°21'08”: E92°31'04”: 1140 m asl). APPROACH (Arbenz, T 2008 Mss -Fieldbook- page 84): Starting at, take the footpath approximately south to the level valley ground (pynthor) of the Wah Shikar (N25°21'18”: E92°32'22”) up to the location of the cave christened i honour of the driver nicknamed Bun (Krem Arlein, Krem Wah Rylien, N25°21'12.7”: E92°31'23.0”). Here, a longer slope leads to a first paddy field north of the path. Cross the field in a northerly direction for what had been in February 2005 a bri (plantation) inside a closed depression with a narrow sinkhole entrance. CAVE DESCRIPTION (after Arbenz, T 2008 Mss -Fieldbook- page 84): A narrow sinkhole entrance gives access to a meander (on average 1 by 1.4 m in size) descending gradually to the head of a 4 m diameter deep pitch 7 m down to boulders and gravel. With the exception of 3 m squeeze down into the blockage, there had been no way on in February 2005.