PHUD JASIM, 1st (Krem)
25.266700,91.583300
Description
Two perennial streams issue from two neighbouring cave entrances, which, in February 1994, were an estimated 15 m apart from each other. The eastern cave entrance is enterable by dignified visitors but the penetration of western cave entrance requires at the very beginning to negotiate a short squeeze across a fallen boulder or two (note 1). ETYMOLOGY: The cave on the »Phudjasim« (BROOKS & SMART 1995: 15), apparently from "[ka] Phud ia Sim" or, perhaps, from "Phud Jasieh" is named after a stream (note 2) of (note 3) one or several unspecified birds (note 4) or the stream of a kind of a water weed (note 5).SITUATION 1997: In a relatively »small« limestone quarry without identified dimensions, which was found to lie between the kilometres 6 and 7 of what once had been a self-centrered person's »right-hand side« and possibly always is, objectively seen, west of the roads which run from Shillong via Weiloi (note 6) to Mawsynram (note 7) and from there via Lawbah (note 8) to Shella (note 9) and Balat (note 10) on the Bangladesh border. SITUATION 1992: »Some 6 km south of Mawsynram village« (BROOKS & SMART 1995: 15). APPROACH: »From the PWD Inspection Bungalow [note 11] at Mawsynram take the road south … After 500 m take a left fork and continue generally downhill for about six kilometres [6 km]. The cave is an active resurgence in a [relatively] small limestone quarry on the right hand side of the road« (BROOKS & SMART 1995: 32). CAVE DESCRIPTION: The western cave entrance (0.8 m wide and 1.6 m high) leads to 180 m of a walking sized streamway passage with coarse sand on the floor, frogs on the walls and a few secondary calcite formations (stalactite speleothems) on the ceiling. Simply by walking almost 200 m upstream, it is the the indefatigable underground walker, who negotiates an underground route past frogs to a T-junction from where sort of a »left branch« without orientation (west) leads after a few metres to boulders and collapse but a kind of »right-hand branch« (sic!) without orientation (east) can be followed through a series of more than two right-angled bends leads to an eventually non-negotiable cave passage where honest cave watchers observed unfair tree roots emerge from the cave ceiling and give the impression of penetrating the roof. CAVE DESCRIPTION 1994: Since progressive »quarrying activities had [between November 1992 and February 1994] removed the first 20 m of the cave« or, perhaps, of the cave-bearing limestone, »to leave a stooping height [cave] entrance that lead to just under 250 metres of reasonably pleasant walking size streamway ending in [sic! qua: giving access to] boulder chokes« (BROOKS & SMART 1995: 15). CAVE DESCRIPTION 1992: »… low and wet entrance … not entered« (BROOKS & SMART 1995: 15). CAVE POTENTIAL: »… due to the [limestone] quarrying activities [the downstream part of Krem Phud Jasim] is likely to become shorter« (BROOKS & SMART 1995: 32) and thus enables sports cavers to fully explore and photograph this cave faster and faster. On the long run, however, sportsmen are advised to consider that a greater distance between the cave entrance and the protection of a motorized vehicle on the road results in having to endure a more extended period without shelter when negotiating -- and that on foot -- a more extensive distance exposed in the open air. CULTURAL HISTORY - human use: »As a pint of note the cave/resurgence still remains a popular car washing spot« (Brooks, S J 2012.09.03 personal correspondence). CAVE LIFE: Christopher M. Smart, Helen Harper and Rob Harper noticed either in November 1992 or in February 1994 the presence of »frogs« (or so). Concerning Chiroptera, »bats were also noted [in November 1992 or in February 1994] in … Krem Mawsmai, Krem Jyniaw [i.e. –>Jynniaw Cave] and Krem Phudjasim in the Khasi Hills)« (BROOKS & SMART 1995 appendix 1: i). »In Krem Phudjasim a solitary toad [Amphibia: Anura] was observed, again in close proximity to an entrance« (C. M. Smart in: BROOKS & SMART 1995 appendix 1: ii). »Arthropoda: Unirama: Chilopoda: Once centipede was observed in Krem Phudjasim« (C. M. Smart in: BROOKS & SMART 1995 appendix 1: iv). »Arthropoda: Crustacea: Malacostrata: Decapoda: Crayfish were also recorded in Krem Mawmluh and Krem Phudjasim« (Christopher M. Smart in: BROOKS & SMART 1995 appendix 1: iv).
NOTE 1: For unbending persons, the western cave entrance is a good place to exercise banging one's head against edges of a cave ceiling. NOTE 2: The Khasi noun "ka phúd" (SINGH, N 1906: 158; BLAH, E 2007: 28) or ”ka phot” (MAMALLAN et al. 1995), and ”ka phod” (Kharpran Daly, Brian D 2009.09.11 Mss: Here are a few more caves; Kharpran Daly, Brian D 2010.02.02 Mss: Krem Rida) signifies »the bed of a stream; a mountain gorge« (SINGH, N 1906: 158) in the sense of "ka phud wah" (SINGH, N 1920: 40), the bed of a stream (of water), a streambed. NOTE 3: The Khasi "ia" (preposition) has been translated by »to, for, of, concerning, regarding« (SINGH, N 1906: 84) and by »in, into, at« (OLDHAM, T 1854 / 1984 appendix C: lxix). NOTE 4: The Khasi noun "ka sim" (feminine), "u sim" (masculine), "i sim" (plural) signifies »a bird / the birds« (SINGH, N 1906: 204; SINGH, N 1920: 46; BLAH, E 2007: 31; OLDHAM, T 1854 / 1984 appendix C: LXI). NOTE 5: u jasieh (noun) a kind of water weed (SINGH, N 1906: 99). NOTE 6: Weiloi (±250 m) N25°21'45”: E091°36'45”: 1650 m (WGS84). NOTE 7: Mawsynram, the village near (±250 m) 25°17'53”N: 91°35'01”E: 1423 m (WGS84 modified from 25°17'51”N: 91°35'11”E, Everest 1830, Survey of India 78-O/11 edition 1974), once was thought to lie at an elevation of 1401.5 m or »4598 feet« (Survey of India sheet 78-O/11 edition 1913). NOTE 8: Lawbah (±250 m) N25°14'00”: E091°33'55” (WGS84). NOTE 9: Shella (±250 m) 25°10'43”N: 91°38'18”E: 24 m (WGS84 modified from 25°10'41”N: 91°38'28”E: 79 feet, Everest 1830, Survey of India 78-O/12 edition 1912). NOTE 10: Balat (±250 m) N25°11'30”: E091°22'20” (WGS84). NOTE 11: The Mawsynram PWD (Public Works Department) Inspection Bungalow is indicated as »IB (PWD)« near (±100 m) 25°17'10”N: 91°34'40”E (WGS84 modified from 25°17'08”N: 91°34'50”E, Everest 1830, Survey of India sheet 78-O/11 edition 1974).) and thus about 2 km in a direct line approximately south-west from Mawsynram proper and on the way via a road fork (N25°16'57”: E091°34'27” WGS84) and the village of Laitsohum (N25°16'40”: E091°33'45” WGS84) to Kyntursniang (N25°16'30”: E091°34'07” WGS84).
Histoire
EXPLORATION HISTORY: 1992.11.12, 13 or 14: Simon J. Brooks, Christopher M. Smart, Rob Harper and Helen Harper, who had been chauffeur-driven by »a local taxi driver, by the name of Mr Noro« (BROOKS & SMART 1995: 9) from Shillong to Mawsynram (BROOKS & SMART 1995: 12) had learned about »Krem Phudjasim« (Krem Phud Jassim) but, »due to its then low and wet entrance had not been entered« (BROOKS & SMART 1995: 15) in the sense of: did not enter. 1994.02.08: Christopher M. Smart (notebook), Boycott, Antony 'Tony' (scout), Helen and Rob [Robert], who had been chauffeur-driven by one »Mr. Khan« (Ambassador taxi driver), decided that »quarrying activities had removed the first 20 metres of the cave« (BROOKS & SMART 1995: 20). On this occasion, »Tony, Rob, Helen & Chris drove to Mawsynram stopping at Weiloi en route to visit and explore Lymsymper cave then on to Mawsynram to explore Krem Phudjasim« (BROOKS & SMART 1995: 20).
Cavités proche
| Distance (km) | Nom | Longueur (m) | Profondeur (m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | PHUD JASIM, 2nd (Krem) | ||
| 1.0 | JYNNIAW CAVE 2a | ||
| 1.0 | JYNNIAW CAVE 1st | ||
| 1.0 | JYNNIAW CAVE 3a | ||
| 1.0 | JYNNIAW CAVE 3b | ||
| 1.0 | JYNNIAW CAVE 3d »Squeeze« | ||
| 1.0 | JYNNIAW CAVE 2b | ||
| 1.5 | KYNTURSNIANG (Krem hajan) | ||
| 1.8 | JYNNIAW CAVE 3c »Pothole« |