WELLAWAYA (SARASIN 1939) (Cave near)

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

A relatively wide cave entrance gives access to a comparatively large cave (Eckrich 1984, personal communication), where 50 paces of walking sized, calcite lined cave passage lead to a blowing constriction or rift, which emitted in 1885 such a strong air draught (air current) that candles and fire brands (torches) were extinguished (SARASIN 1939: 104). IDENTITY: Compare –>Galaboda Kandé galgé and –>Wawul Galge (Wellawaya). SITUATION 1885: SARASIN (1939: 104) reports this allegedly anonymous cave from an unspecified location somewhere in the vicinity of Wellawaya and narrates how Fritz Sarasin and Paul Sarasin were guided along a a slightly ascending path through forest and high grass to the entrance to a cave. CAVE DESCRIPTION (after SARASIN 1939: 104): A wide entrance gives access to 50 paces of walking sized cave passage with calcite lined walls, which lead to a -crack- (rift) just wide enough to allow access, but it was not possible to set the torches on fire because of the emittin gas (rather a strong air current than bad air). CAVE POTENTIAL: The unacknowledged guide (no name mention), who paved the way for SARASIN (1939: 104), reported to have heard that the passages widens up again to lead after a long distance to a door behind which seven kings are buried. CULTURAL HISTORY - Human use: SARASIN (1939: 104) regards a cave (no name mentioned) near (sic!) Wellawaya not suitable for archaeological excavation (note 1). gas (rather a strong air current than bad air). CAVE POTENTIAL: The unacknowledged guide (no name mention), who paved the way for SARASIN (1939: 104), reported to have heard that the passages widens up again to lead after a long distance to a door behind which seven kings are buried. CULTURAL HISTORY - Human use: SARASIN (1939: 104) regards a cave (no name mentioned) near (sic!) Wellawaya not suitable for archaeological excavation (note 1).