KACHAR (Krem)

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

The blind, fossil shaft (note 1) called Krem Kachar (Cowper 2007.02.24 Mss) or Krem Kacha (Brooks, S J et al. 2007.03.01 Mss: Diary2007.doc: Sat 24th Feb; JARRATT & DAWSON 2007: Next day 2007.02.24) is estimated 3 by 1.5 m wide at the top and believed to drop approximately 30 m down to what gives the impression of being something like a mud floor. ETYMOLOGY: The Synteng (Khasi) kachar is said to be the name of a cow but the Khasi noun -ka shár- is a funnel while the verb -shàr- means to choke (SINGH, N 1906: 191) and -ka khashór- is a mule (SINGH, N 1906: 38). SITUATION 1 (Jarratt 2000.02 personal communication): The reputedly deep shaft is said to lie in an obvious clump of trees on the side of an unspecified hill (with an unidentified name) which is said to lie at a distance of about 700 m on bearing of 324° from the doorway oft he Litang tea house (note 2). SITUATION 2: Cowper (2007.02.24 Mss) places Krem Kachar from Lumthari football field downhill towards large stand of trees. Th inquisitive observer noticed that the edge of the shaft top was marked on 24th February 2007 by a kind of a tree. CAVE DESCRIPTION 1 (Arbenz, T 2007.11.24 Mss -Ergänzungen- item 4): About 5 m diameter blind pot. At bottom logs and rotting vegetation (Cooper). Position N 25°21'57.5- E92°32'58.2- alt 939 m Garmin E-Trex (Q.Cooper) acc.8 m. Book, instruments, and Disto all by Q. Cooper. Total length (vertical) 30.95 m surveyed 24.02.2007. Mapped by T.Arbenz 10.2007. CAVE DESCRIPTION 2 (JARRATT & DAWSON 2007): A blind 30 m shaft which may have been Krem Kacha. TACKLE (Arbenz, T 2007.11.24 Mss): 40 m rope. 1st belay at tree near pot. Re-belay 2.74 m down. CAVE POTENTIAL (Arbenz, T 2007.11.24 Mss): Could be dug at one end of bottom of the pot - but would not be a 5 minute job. (Cooper). PROSPECTS (Arbenz, T 2007.11.24 Mss): Not promising. CULTURAL HISTORY: Anthony 'Tony' R Jarratt (2000.02 personal communication) was told the pothole cave is named after a cow that fell down the cav entrance and still sits there —unless she keeps on falling or went somewhere else for a change. inquisitive observer noticed that the edge of the shaft top was marked on 24th February 2007 by a kind of a tree. CAVE DESCRIPTION 1 (Arbenz, T 2007.11.24 Mss -Ergänzungen- item 4): About 5 m diameter blind pot. At bottom logs and rotting vegetation (Cooper). Position N 25°21'57.5- E92°32'58.2- alt 939 m Garmin E-Trex (Q.Cooper) acc.8 m. Book, instruments, and Disto all by Q. Cooper. Total length (vertical) 30.95 m surveyed 24.02.2007. Mapped by T.Arbenz 10.2007. CAVE DESCRIPTION 2 (JARRATT & DAWSON 2007): A blind 30 m shaft which may have been Krem Kacha. TACKLE (Arbenz, T 2007.11.24 Mss): 40 m rope. 1st belay at tree near pot. Re-belay 2.74 m down. CAVE POTENTIAL (Arbenz, T 2007.11.24 Mss): Could be dug at one end of bottom of the pot - but would not be a 5 minute job. (Cooper). PROSPECTS (Arbenz, T 2007.11.24 Mss): Not promising. CULTURAL HISTORY: Anthony 'Tony' R Jarratt (2000.02 personal communication) was told the pothole cave is named after a cow that fell down the cav inquisitive observer noticed that the edge of the shaft top was marked on 24th February 2007 by a kind of a tree. CAVE DESCRIPTION 1 (Arbenz, T 2007.11.24 Mss -Ergänzungen- item 4): About 5 m diameter blind pot. At bottom logs and rotting vegetation (Cooper). Position N 25°21'57.5- E92°32'58.2- alt 939 m Garmin E-Trex (Q.Cooper) acc.8 m. Book, instruments, and Disto all by Q. Cooper. Total length (vertical) 30.95 m surveyed 24.02.2007. Mapped by T.Arbenz 10.2007. CAVE DESCRIPTION 2 (JARRATT & DAWSON 2007): A blind 30 m shaft which may have been Krem Kacha. TACKLE (Arbenz, T 2007.11.24 Mss): 40 m rope. 1st belay at tree near pot. Re-belay 2.74 m down. CAVE POTENTIAL (Arbenz, T 2007.11.24 Mss): Could be dug at one end of bottom of the pot - but would not be a 5 minute job. (Cooper). PROSPECTS (Arbenz, T 2007.11.24 Mss): Not promising. CULTURAL HISTORY: Anthony 'Tony' R Jarratt (2000.02 personal communication) was told the pothole cave is named after a cow that fell down the cav entrance and still sits there —unless she keeps on falling or went somewhere else for a change.