PHRASNAH or PHRAHSNAH (Krang)

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

Rockliff, H & Harries, D B 2014.12.26 Mss: 19-02-2014 Krem Phrasna.docA closed depression or sinkhole that is an estimated 35 m across, about 25 m deep, and allows expedition cavers nol only to descend down to daylight-lit sandstone boulders, vegetation, dense overgrow but also to face a so-called the choked passage at the bottom [which] seems to lead into the limestone (contact layer visible) (Rockliff, H & Harries, D B 2014.12.26 Mss: 19-02-2014 Krem Phrasna.doc). ETYMOLOGY: The meaning, origin and history or herstory of the recorded cave name Krem Phrasna was not understood by expedition cavers in clouds (Rockliff, H & Harries, D B 2014.12.26 Mss: 19-02-2014 Krem Phrasna.doc) but seems to combine one of the Khasi words -phra- or -phrah- (note 1) rather with -snah- (note 2) than with -sna- (sic!) insofar as the latter is a meaningless combination of Latin letters. SETTING: In an area with several conveying streams on sandstone (Rockliff, H & Harries, D B 2014.12.26 Mss: 19-02-2014 Kem Phrasna.doc) that lies more than a kilometre in a direct line west but about 300 m or 350 m vertically above the orographically right bank of the Sehshympa (Prang River). SITUATION: At an unidentified location in an unspecified setting somewhere in the vicinity of the village referred to as Pnarkba (Survey of India 1922 toposheet 83-C/SW) and Pynurkhla (RAJA RAO, C S 1981: 76) or Pynurkba (anonymous Brooks, S J et al. 2014.04.05 Mss) on the northern rim of the Lakadong - Umlatdoh Plateau and on the interfluve between the rivers Luber in the east and the Lynriang in the west. APPROACH 2014.04.05: It took about an hour to walk from Pynurkba village to Krem Phrasna (anonymous Brooks, S J et al. 2014.04.05 Mss: Diary Meghalaya 2014 Second Edit: 19th February, Wednesday). APPROACH 2014.12.26: Expedition cavers are best ordered to walk from Pynurkba [near ±250 m N25°15'04”: E092°17'30”] for one hour (Rockliff, H & Harries, D B 2014.12.26 Mss: 19-02-2014 Krem Phrasna.doc) without consdering any direction.CAVE DESCRIPTION 2014.04.05: A relatively big pothole about 25 m deep and 35 m across (anonymous Brooks, S J et al. 2014.04.05 Mss: Diary Meghalaya 2014 Second Edit: 19th February, Wednesday). CAVE DESCRIPTION 2014.04.29: Large pit , boulder choke (Arbenz, T 2014.04.29 undated Mss: Cave record overwiev 2_ 2014.xlsx). CAVE DESCRIPTION 2012.12.26: The sink in sandstone is a pit, sinkhole 35 m across, ca. 25 m deep and consists of a sink at the bottom of a 30 m sandstone pit with boulders and some vegetation in it. The choked passage at the bottom seems to lead into the limestone (contact layer visible) (Rockliff, H & Harries, D B 2014.12.26 Mss: 19-02-2014 Krem Phrasna.doc). TACKLE: 30 m rope, slings, carabiners and a rope protector (Rockliff, H & Harries, D B 2014.12.26 Mss: 19-02-2014 Krem Phrasna.doc). PROSPECTS 2014.04.29: Hopes of commencing not only to survey but also to map and thereby explore this cave were on 29th April 2014 ongoing (Arbenz, T 2014.04.29 unated Mss: Cave record overwiev 2_ 2014.xlsx). PROSPECTS 2014.12.26: Unknown but apparently minimal. Needs digging and boulder scuring - not easy (Rockliff, H & Harries, D B 2014.12.26 Mss: 19-02-2014 Krem Phrasna.doc). CULTURAL HISTORY: Not known to Rockliff, H & Harries, D B (2014.12.26 Mss: 19-02-2014 Krem Phrasna.doc). CAVE LIFE: Noticed on 19th February 2014 were Heteropoda spiders (Rockliff, H & Harries, D B 2014.12.26 Mss: 19-02-2014 Krem Phrasna.doc).ated Mss: Cave record overwiev 2_ 2014.xlsx). PROSPECTS 2014.12.26: Unknown but apparently minimal. Needs digging and boulder scuring - not easy (Rockliff, H & Harries, D B 2014.12.26 Mss: 19-02-2014 Krem Phrasna.doc). CULTURAL HISTORY: Not known to Rockliff, H & Harries, D B (2014.12.26 Mss: 19-02-2014 Krem Phrasna.doc). CAVE LIFE: Noticed on 19th February 2014 were Heteropoda spiders (Rockliff, H & Harries, D B 2014.12.26 Mss: 19-02-2014 Krem Phrasna.doc).