DNGIEM, Lumthymme 1a

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 12/12/2015

This Krem Dngiem (note 1) is a spacious (note 2), relic stream cave (note 3), which is abandoned by flowing water (in a senile state of karstification) and characterised by collapse (breakdown) combined with remains of old (corroding) secondary calcite formations, false (perched) floors. Relic scallops indicate former flow of water and riverine / fluviatil erosion (after Arbenz, T 2007.02.10 Mss). GEOLOGICAL SITUATION (Gebauer 2002.02.23 Mss: South Asia Cave Register): The entrance lies just below the Kopili Shale - Sylhet Limestones contact and give access to a relic high level system, which I suspect to have originally drained the north-western side of Shnongrim Ridge between Krem –>Labit (Lumdait Khung) via Krem –>Liat Prah in a northerly direction towards the river Rashu (note 4). POSITION: WGS84 25°22'16.8”N: 92°32'14.9”E (±7 m): 1002 m asl (Arbenz, T 2007.02.10 GPS Magellan 100) seems to be a corrected version of the misprinted (16.8 instead of 18.6) original recorded WGS84 25°22'18.6”N: 92°32'14.9”E (±4.8 m): 1000 m asl (Gebauer, H. D. 2002.02.23 GPS Garmin 12). ETYMOLOGY: The Khasi noun "ka dngiem" (female) or "u dngiem" (male), abbreviated 'ngiem, is »a bear« (BLAH, E 2007: 27; SINGH, N 1906: 66, 78, 1920: 39). Initially registered as »Krem Dngiem, Shnongrim - Lumthari« (Gebauer 2002.02.23 Mss: South Asia Cave Register) but later, as it lies closer to the village of Lumthymme that to the village of Lumthari, as »Krem Dngiem, Lumthymme« (Arbenz, T 2007.02.10 Mss). Arbenz, T (2008 Mss "Fieldbook" pages 23-24), however, lists this cave as »Krem Dngiem, Lumthari« (probably because the entrance position falls on the grid square "Lumthari" of the cave distribution map »Shnongim Ridge (Arbenz, T.). APPROACH 2007: »Starting from 4WD-track Lumthymme - Lumthari at Y-junction to Moolesngi [Mulesngi], take the track starting on right-hand side of cowshed, traversing into NW-flank of the Shnongrim Ridge, degrading to a footpath, and following distict pine-tree grove in a northerly direction. Then through meadow to fenced patch. Cross swampy patch and then go downhill about 50 m to reach footpath following a ravine in light jungle. After 50 m the cave entrance lies 20 m to the right of the path. In February 2007 access was by freshly cut jungle "path" down to a ledge at the cave entrance. Walking time is 15 min down and 20 min up« (Arbenz, T 2007.02.10 Mss). APPROACH 2008: Starting at a lone house and cow shed on the col between Lumthymme and Mulasngi (100 m after y-Junction), take the footpath in a north easterly direction to a distinct, square (rectangular?) pine grove. Leave the path and continue in an easterly direction along the grove's edge. Cross a swampy meadow and creek for a footpath that leads towards the "pynthor" (level ground) at Myrsiang / Lenong. Follow a path down for about 200 m. The cave entrance lies in a depression about 40 m left of the path (Arbenz, T 2008 Mss "Fieldbook" 23). CAVE DESCRIPTION 2002a: The triangular shaped cave entrance (up to 5 m high and 7 m wide) gives access to a free climbable ruckle pot (three 3 m steps towards 135°, -46°) in the nick of two crossing joints (circa 315°-135° and 055°-235°) near the head of a steep valley on the north-western side of the Shnongrim Ridge (Gebauer 2002.02.23 Mss: South Asia Cave Register). CAVE DESCRIPTION 2002b: »Krem Gein Gigngm with guide. 40 degrees down climable entrance, 30 m surveyed, ongoing horizontal, average dimentions 8 m wide, 5 m hiegh fosel passage. Water level 10-15 m below, there are several places to get downto it. Need to negotiate large pot to continue fassel passage [note 5]« (Hodgson, "Yorkshire Dave" literally quoted 2002.02.23 Mss: Meghalaya Diary). CAVE DESCRIPTION 2007: »Free climbable entrance pot (circa 8 m) down big slabs and boulders to big, downsloping passage (around 040°) to T-junction (side passage S.2 on right). From there horizontal but stay to the right-hand side as there are dangerous funnels with loose slabs and lochs down into phreatic canyon on the left. Station 1.4 (on bridge) is starting point for canyon, shaft (+40 m) down to stream passage of very large dimensions. Station 1.8 at big shaft (loose, bouldery funnel opening, Ø = passage width. Traverse line across shaft on left to 50 m more passage and next / last shaft at end of passage. Side passage (S.2) same character. Ends in two high (20 m) calcited avens. [The] S.1 shaft starting as meandering cnyon drops into roof of Aircraft Hangar [in Krem Liat Prah] passage @ junction with No draught [No Draught Passage] in Liat Prah. P1 and 3 connect to Liat Prah« (Arbenz, T 2007.02.10 Mss). SPELEOMETRY: CAVE DESCRIPTION 2008: »The triangular mouth (up to 5 m high and 7 m wide) gives access to a free climbable ruckle pot in the nick of two crossing joints. It leads to a vast, down-sloping passage of impressive dimensions. Though parts of the cave are still active, Krem Dngiem ist obvioudly part of an"old", high-level system that H.D. Gebauer suspects to have originally drained the north-western side of Shnongrim Ridge between Krem Labit (Lumdait Khung) via Krem Liat Prah to the river Rashu. The main passage is charactrised by a "flakey" break down debris (dangerously loose!) that litters the doline-like depressions, which eventually leads into a deep, meandring rift. From this rift, three shafts descend into Krem Liat Prah, connecting to the Main Passage and to "Trafalgar Square" at "Nelson’s Collumn". As you walk into the cave, two side passages lead off to the right. The first, just after the entrance, is accessed across a large, nicely decorated slab and a 2 m climb down into a lettre box. It leads down a big chamber that is characterised by a tall aven. After this, an active streamway follows a long bend to a slope with dangerously loose bouldes. Above this a shaft arrives from daylight. The second side passage, angling off at the lowest point of the main passage, is accessed via a short upward canyon. It is an old relic passage that follows a dry meander. Some scrambling and crawling is necessary to reach the impressive last chamber, where a couple of very high, well decorated avens (some free climbable) are well worth a visit« (Arbenz, T 2008 Mss "Fieldbook" 23). CAVE CONTENTS: »Sediments: sand, mud, rounded gravel; Calcite: [speleothems] stalactites, stalagmites, flowstone, straws (mainly white, glassy), cauliflower [note 6] botryoidal formations], cave pearls [pisoliths] and very small gours [micro gours]; Gypsum "flowers" (small crystalline)« (Arbenz, T 2007.02.10 Mss). SPELEOMETRY: »… having entered all available data Krem Dngiem (1) totals now in 802.52 m // VR is -83.31m. (added trip N5 of 22/2/2007 > H.Dawson, B.Cullen, H. André)« (Arbenz, T 2007.08.07 Mss: For the record). According to Thomas Arbenz & Brian Cullen (cave plan 2007.10.02 "Krem Dngiem 2" undated) contributes this 83.31 m deep pothole 802.52 m of survey length to the Krem Liat Prah System. The cave entrance to »Krem Dngiem 1« (WGS84 N25°22'18.6”: E92°32'14.9”: 1000 m asl) contributed by March 2007 a survey length of 802.52 m to the Krem –>Liat Prah called »Labit Cave System«( Arbenz, T 2008.01.20 Mss). TACKLE: Arbenz, T (2008 Mss "Fieldbook" 23) suggests to bring in addition to a »sling and two carbines to negotiate the entrance safely, some 10 m of rope for the Main Passage. To descend the route, which has been bolted in February 2007, into Krem Liat Prah, two 50 m ropes and five hangers are necessary.« Arbenz, T (2007.02.10 Mss) had recommended to take for the shaft 75 m (one rope) with five hangers, and a 60 m rope with ten hangers to traverse the end of the upper passage. CAVE POTENTIAL: (Arbenz, T 2007.02.10 Mss): 1st): Small crawly bits to be looked at in the Upper Level. 2nd): The Shaft gives access to active streamway either in or near the Aircraft Hangar of Krem Liat Prah. 3rd): Further to do's are sloping down calcite side passage close to the entrance and to search the intermediate active canyon between the main passage and the Krem Liat Prah level. CULTURAL HISTORY - human use (Arbenz, T 2007.02.10 Mss): The remains of a bat trap indicated the cave has been used as a bat hunting ground. CAVE LIFE: Arbenz, T (2007.02.10 Mss) lists Pipistrellus type bats (Chiroptera), »snot gobblers« (larval stage of fungus gnats, Diptera: Mycetophilidae), various moths, pale crickets, and sulphur bacteria.