JINHAW poh LUM (Krem)

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

An about 12 m (NE-SW) by 8 m (NW-SW) wide and initially 24 m deep pothole gives not only access to the sight of speleothems in a Sparkling Palace (Kirsamer 2001) or chamber choked with mud (Sheen, R F 2003) but also a dark, interior 55 m shaft down to a floor with no apparent way on. Sheen, R F (2003.02.13 Mss: Wah Yung) overlooked the interior shaft (Kirsamer 2001) but had noticed some selected aspects of a so-called large open 30 m pot (Sheen, R F 2003.02.13 Mss: Krem Wah Yung, River House Cave) which looked like taking a large stream in monsoon and was declared choked with mud. A bolt at the pitch head and survey stations in the chamber at the base indicate prior exploration.ETYMOLOGY: Scherzer, H (2001.02.24 personal communication), Harries, D B & Ware, F recorded the cave name -Krem Jinhaw poh Lum- (Vapour Breathing Cave on the Downhill side) where the Khasi noun -ka jinhaw- is a gas, the vapour and the verb -jinhaw- means to breathe on (SINGH, N 1906: 103). Sheen, R F (2003.02.1 Mss) recorded the cave name -Krem Wah Yung- along with River House Cave and thereby testifies to have meant a -Krem Wah Ïing- because there is no Khasi word -yung- whilst the Khasi noun -ka ïing- is pronounced -ying- and signified a house (SINGH, N 1906: 90; OLDHAM, T 1854 / 1984 appendix C: lxi, lxvii). SITUATION 2001: Krem Jinhaw poh Lum is on the western flank of the Shnongrim ridge (Scherzer, H 2001.02.24 personal communication). SITUATION 2003: Robin F. Sheen 2003.02.13 Mss: Krem Wah Yung …) located the entrance to what he recorded as Krem Wah Yung / River House Cave … at the confluence of several gulleys ( According to Sheen's GPS reading (note 1), the GPS position for Krem Wah Yung / River House Cave (Sheen, R F 2003.02.13 Mss) lies at linear distances of about 20 or 25 m in a direct line south-west of Krem Lyngka 1 (Sheen 2005.02.11) and 53 m SSE from Kirsamer's GPS position for Krem Jinhaw poh Lum. POSITION 2001: 25°20'29.1”N: 92°29'56.1”E: 1104 m asl (WGS84, ±7.5 m,Kirsamer H 2001.02.24, GPS Garmin 12). POSITION 2003: 25°20'30.5”N: 92°29'55.0”E: ignored altitude (±35 m sic! Sheen, R F GPS Garmin Etrex Summit) for Krem Wah Yung / River House Cave (Sheen 2003.02.13 Mss). APPROACH 1 (Kirsamer Scherzer 2001.02.24 personal communication): To reach the cave, walk from the house (without GPS position) which stands south of Krem –>Lumdait Krong for about 150 m north-west (307°) and downhill across grassland (note 2) but then, just above the -tree-line-, look out for a dry stream bed which leads after 100 m west (280°) to the cave entrance (pothole). APPROACH 2: Sheen, R F (2003.02.13 Mss: Krem Wah Yung) fully understood that some people can Walk down ridge from road and that's it. CAVE CLIMATE: Moisture laden air current may be emitting at times.Kirsamer H 2001.02.24, GPS Garmin 12). POSITION 2003: 25°20'30.5”N: 92°29'55.0”E: ignored altitude (±35 m sic! Sheen, R F GPS Garmin Etrex Summit) for Krem Wah Yung / River House Cave (Sheen 2003.02.13 Mss). APPROACH 1 (Kirsamer Scherzer 2001.02.24 personal communication): To reach the cave, walk from the house (without GPS position) which stands south of Krem –>Lumdait Krong for about 150 m north-west (307°) and downhill across grassland (note 2) but then, just above the -tree-line-, look out for a dry stream bed which leads after 100 m west (280°) to the cave entrance (pothole). APPROACH 2: Sheen, R F (2003.02.13 Mss: Krem Wah Yung) fully understood that some people can Walk down ridge from road and that's it. CAVE CLIMATE: Moisture laden air current may be emitting at times.