LYMOH, lower: Doline (Krem)

Location

Altogether four known cave entrances, which are set along a SW-NE trending »canyon« (Audsley, A U 2010), »graben« (note 1) or »phud« , give access to a sub-horizontal single passage cave formed at a relatively small depth below the surface in limestone rock strata dipping at a low angle approximately north-east (Arbenz, T 2011.04.23 Mss). E1 = Krem Lymoh, lower vertical, about 20 m SW-NE long, some 4 m to 5 m wide, and of unknown depth near (±9 m) N25°24'38.9”: E092°36'17.0”: 735 m asl (WGS84; Audsley A U 2010.02.17 with R. Galloway's GPS Garmin Etrex Vista)E2 = Lymoh Crack Cave south-east facing, 4 m wide and 0.3 m high (Arbenz, T 2011.04.23 Mss: Re Krem Lymmoh / Porcupine Cave): On the one-hand side, namely the interior of the cave, an »open crack along bedding plane to daylight« (Arbenz, T 2011 undated cave plan: Porcupineplan.pdf) but on the other hand, a penetrable gap to more than night-darknessE3 = Lymoh 12 m Pothole vertical, about 3 m by 5 m (NW-SE) wide (Arbenz, T 2011.04.23 Mss: Re Krem Lymmoh / Porcupine Cave) near N25°24'34.5”: E092°36'13.8” (WGS84) if the only recorded GPS position was read at survey station 1/0 E4 = Lymoh Inlet Cave an estimated 1 m wide SW-NE and 2 m long NW-SE (Arbenz, T 2011.04.23 Mss: Re Krem Lymmoh / Porcupine Cave) near N25°24'40.7”: E092°26'17.8” (WGS84) if the only recorded GPS position was read at survey station 1/0. The seasonally active stream cave is said to drain parts of the south-eastern flank of the »Lymmoh canyon« (Lymoh gorge), including the waters sinking into the dowstream sump of the upper Krem –>Lymoh (Arbenz, T 2011.04.10 dated "17.2.2010" updated "24thFeb.2011" Mss: Krem Lymmoh-Porcupine_Rec.doc) towards the orographically left (locally south-west) bank of the Kopili River (26°15'N: 92°10'E). ETYMOLOGY: No specific cave name has been identified for this cave in the lower reaches of the so-called »Lymmoh Canyon« or »Lymmoh Canyon« (Phud Lymoh N25°24'48”: E092°36'23” WGS84). Since this cave is the hydrographically lowest of the –>Lymoh Caves, it may be dubbed Lower Lymoh Cave (sortname: Krem Lymoh, lower). Lymmoh gorge who discovered no meaning whatever which could contribute to explain the four Synteng Khasi cave names, which have been recorded not only as "lymmoh" but also as "lymoh" and possibly may derive -- but this is mere guesswork -- from the standard Khasi a) "ka lymmoh" (note 2), »a leafy branch of tree« (GURDON 1906: 156) or "ka lymmúh" (noun), »a branch or twig [of a tree or bush] with green leafs« (SINGH, N 1906: 124) b) "lymmang" (adjective), »without dress or ornaments« (SINGH, N 1906: 124) -- which would clothe a gorge without vegetation / in bare (naked) karst into suitable words, c) the two combined nouns "u lyoh" or »a cloud, the clouds; the mist« and "u mo" or »a stone, a rock« (note 3). To distinguish the hydrographically and topographically lower Lymmoh Cave from the other Lymoh caves, Arbenz, T. (2010.05.29 Mss: Re: Lymmoh, Lymoh) suggested the alternative cave name »Porcupine Cave« (note 4) as he had seen there in February 2010 not only the nest (note 5) of a porcupine (note 6) but also countless porcupine quills (note 7). Arbenz, T (2011.04.10 Mss) explains that »the guide … M. Sarti Kseh …« was interpreted by an unidentified person speaking an unspecified native language to have »insisted that the name of this cave was spelt with two “m” but all the other Lymoh field names nearby with one “m” only. The name Porcupine Cave is not a translation but was given to the cave by Thomas Arbenz who wanted to have a clear destinction between Lymmoh and Lymoh. A porcupine lair inside the cave fathered this idea.« On 20th February 2011 Thomas Arbenz, Peter Ludwig and David Cooke introduced the spelling version »Krem Limmoh« on occasion of having successfully completed a »through trip into aven« (Anonymous 2011.03.27 table 2011 Logbook.xls). SITUATION: The four known cave entrances of the lower Krem Lymoh or »Porcupine Cave« (Arbenz, T 2010) lie above the orographically left (locally south-west) bank of the Kopili River (26°15'N: 92°10'E) and in a SW-NE trending Lymoh gorge about 2 km in a direct line approximately south-east from the village of Kseh (St. Joseph church near WGS84 N25°25'24.0”: E092°35'32.9”: 880 m asl).Arbenz, T. (2010.03.31 cave distribution map: Pala_Ridge_4-10.pdf) after »Audsley 2010« indicates (WGS84) some of the cave entrances of the four distinct caves 1) »Krem Lymmoh« N25°24'38”: E92°36'16”: 735 m2) »Krem Lymoh« N25°24'31”: E92°35'59”: 761 m and3) »Krem Lymoh Pots« N25°24'21”: E92°35'51”: 796 m hydrologically aligned above each other from north-east to south-west and parallel south-east to the western branch of the »Lymmoh Canyon« (Lymoh gorge N25°24'48”: E092°36'24” WGS84) with 4) »Krem Lymmoh Canyon« N25°24'27”: E92°35'51”: 749 m (WGS84), the –>Lymoh Gorge-Head Cave at the head of the Lymoh gorge. Anonymous et al. (2010.03.29 Mss: Diary (current) 2010.doc: 14th February) narrate how the cave entrance to »Krem Lymmoh« (the lower Krem Lymoh) was found at an estimated »further 10 min walk« in an unidentified direction from Krem –>Yeji (Hapka 2010) and at an estimated walking distance of 2.5 km »upstream« (generally south along the Kopili River) of an unspecified »Krem Labbit Kseh canyon« (note 8). The so-called »Lymmoh Canon [Lymoh gorge] … [has been interpreted as] a canyon (6 m to 8 m deep, 15 m wide) looking like a river cave without roof (pools and clean walls). 50 m from the Kopili river the canyon is dividing in a fork. The right [orographically left] upstream canyon is going after 30 m of walking (information given by inhabitants) to the resurgence cave of Krem Lymmoh. The left [orographically right] upstream canyon [note 9] is going to the resurgence cave of Krem Enle. Good possibility to set a camp near the Kopili river. Possibility to drive there with a jeep« (Anonymous et al. 2010.03.29 Mss: Diary (current) 2010.doc: 14th February). Anonymous et al. (2010.03.29 Mss: Diary (current) 2010.doc: 15th February) located the cave entrance to »Krem Lymmoh« at an obviously deranged location between the (mouth of the?) »Lymmoh canyon« and the village of Pala (note 10). APPROACH 2011a: To reach the cave entrance to the lower Krem Lymoh »from the Lymoh Canyon crossing (near N25°24'41.3”: E092°36'15.2” WGS84), take the footpath up between two karst boulders and cross the paddy fields heading SE into the jungle. About 100 m after the highest point of the path [at an unidentified GPS position] the cave [entrance] lies about 50 m SW from the path. The cave [entrance] is a short section of open [unroofed] canyon (about 20 m long) and has a downstream and an upstream entrance« (Arbenz, T 2011.04.10 Mss: Krem Lymmoh-Porcupine_Rec.doc). APPROACH 2011b: To reach the cave entrance to the lower Krem Lymoh from the village of Kseh (St. Joseph church near N25°25'24.0”: E092°35'32.9”: 880 m asl WGS84), »… drive or walk [generally south] along the road to Pala [N25°24'43”: E092°34'09”: 967 m asl WGS84]. About halfway to the Bus Stop Junction [near N25°24'37”: E092°35'00” WGS84] and at the base of the last incline [at an unidentified GPS position], a new road [February 2011] forks [at an unidentified GPS position, perhaps near WGS84 N25°24'50”: E092°35'24”: 900 m asl] off [east] towards the Kopili River. It [the road] is large enough to let a small truck pass. The road ends currently (February 2011) just at the edge of Lymoh Canyon where the construction of a motorable bridge [at an unidentified GPS position] is in progress. Some 50 m short of [west] the bridge and at the end of the last flat piece of road, a footpath takes off [at an unidentified GPS position] leading 30 m [in an unidentified direction] down to the (only) ford (visible from the road). Cross the ford [near WGS84 N25°24'46”: E092°36'22”] and proceed [south-east] along a well trodden footpath and cattle track. Follow the path for 200 m trough dense bush to a clearing [at an unidentified GPS position]. The cave entrance is 50 m west. Use GPS position do find the cave entrance (tested in 2011)« (Arbenz, T 2011.04.10 Mss: Krem Lymmoh-Porcupine_Rec.doc). CAVE ENTRANCE 1: Krem Lymoh, lower (±9 m N25°24'38.9”: E092°36'17.0”: 735 m asl WGS84 Audsley A U 2010.02.17 »no altimeter« in the sense of R. Galloway's GPS Garmin Etrex Vista): The most convenient and hence the first of the altogether four known cave entrances, is a daylight-lit, elongated collapse doline (about 20 m south-west to north-east long, some 4 m to 5 m wide) of unidentified depth. The collapse doline was interpreted to give the impression of having formed due to caving-in when the ceiling of the cave passage collapsed and resulted in what has been interpreted as a »ceiling window« (source?), which allows a »scramble down boulders« (Arbenz, T 2011.04.10 dated "17.2.2010" updated "24thFeb.2011" Mss: Krem Lymmoh-Porcupine_Rec.doc). CAVE ENTRANCE 2: Lymoh Crack Cave: The south-east-facing, letterbox-shaped, about 4 m wide and 0.3 m high cave entrance (Arbenz, T 2011.04.23 Mss: Re Krem Lymmoh / Porcupine Cave) lies at an unspecified location and unidentified GPS position (note 13) either about 10 m south-west from the south-west corner of the doline entrance (Arbenz, T. undated 2010 cave plan: Porcupineplan.pdf) or »at a walking distance of 40 m [underground] from the [first] cave entrance, daylight entering through a horizontal crack in the SE cave wall« (Arbenz, T 2011.04.10 Mss: Krem Lymmoh-Porcupine_Rec.doc). CAVE ENTRANCE 3: Lymoh 12 m Pothole: The hydrographically topmost cave entrance lies at an unspecified location and unidentified GPS position (note 11). This about 3 m by 5 m (NW-SE) wide cave entrance (note 12) has been interpreted as an aven because it once had been found from inside the cave and beyond (south-west) of »… a cave chamber, which is strewn with breakdown boulders … [from where a relatively] short crawling bit [of unidentified length] following the main SW-drag [read: NE drag] of the cave leads to an open 12 m-aven … The aven can be free-climbed to pop up into a jungle« (anonymous Arbenz, T et al. 2011.03.27 undated Mss: 2011 Diary.doc: Sunday 20th Feb 2011). CAVE ENTRANCE 4: Lymoh Inlet Cave: The rift-like, partly infilled cave entrance is an estimated 1 m wide (SW-NE) and 2 m long (NW-SE) (note 14), faces north-west (Arbenz, T. undated 2010 cave plan: Porcupineplan.pdf), seems to to function as an occasinal sink (note 15) and lies in an unidentified setting and at an unspecified location with an unidentified GPS position (note 16) at a spot short of the visitor tour's »choked end« in the north-eastern downstream branch where it has been identified as »an inlet from the surface (daylight)« (Arbenz, T 2011.04.10 Mss: Krem Lymmoh-Porcupine_Rec.doc). CAVE DESCRIPTION 2011: The descent or »scramble down boulders« to the floor of the daylight-lit »open« (unroofed) partition gives access to the intersection of a dark cave passage, where the beginning of the south-western branch lies upstream and an estimated 20 m opposite across the beginning of the north-eastern downstream branch. The south-western upstream branch commences with what has been interpreted as the north-east-facing, trapeze shaped »Upstream Entrance« (3 m wide, 1.8 m high), which lies at an unidentified distance (an estimated 20 m) south-west from the south-west-facing, triangular shaped »Downstream Entrance« (1 m wide, 1.6 m high). »Upstream: The bedding plane cave passage (on average 1.5 m high and up to 5 m wide) carries a streambed where rounded rocks and pebbles cover the floor while flood debris, washed-in during spates, is piled in places up to the ceiling, which is decorated with many secondary calcite formations. The driftwood wedged in between the calcite formations can be interpreted to indicate that the cave is drowned during high water condition but the current is not strong and the flow velocity low. At a walking distance of 40 m from the [first] cave entrance, daylight entering through a horizontal crack [note 17] in the SE cave wall [indicates the second cave entrance]. About 100 m further on, the cross-section changes to a rift-like but meandering cave passage (1 m wide, 3 m high) with knee-deep to waist-deep water. The meandering, well decorated cave passage continues for a good 60 m in two sections with wading to swimming deep water … two about 10 m long swims … Then the meander brakes into another bedding plane passage, thus forming a distinct cross-shaped cross-section of walking size with the rift up to 8 m high the bedding plane equally wide. Another 50 m further on, a cave chamber, which is strewn with breakdown boulders, seems to terminate progress but a [relatively] short crawling bit [of unidentified length] following the main SW-drag of the cave leads to an open 12 m-aven [and the third cave entrance]. The way on beyond the aven, however, is blocked by breakdown boulders. The aven can be free-climbed to pop up into a jungle. Downstream: The partly triangular shaped and partly vaulted cave passage follows a “stretched” meander [leading downstream to a backup zone characterised by] knee-deep water, deep mud and sand covering the floor. The penetrable part of this cave passage ends in a mud choked bedding plane passage. Shortly before [what had been in February 2010] the choked end, an inlet from the surface (daylight) appears to represent yet a fourth cave entrance« (after Arbenz, T 2011.04.10 Mss: Krem Lymmoh-Porcupine_Rec.doc). CAVE DESCRIPTION 2010.02.17: The cave entrance is a 20 m long (SW-NE) ceiling collapse window interpreted as an »open section of a canyon« (with unidentified width) which descends down (for an unidentified depth) to an about 5 m wide, daylight-lit streambed and thereby intersects a solitary, generally SW to NE trending, meandering, and almost 140 m long cave passage containing varieties of speleothems in spite of (in February 2010) knee-deep and, apparently up to waist-deep water. Audsley (2010.02.17 Mss: Krem Lymmoh) regarded the entrance doline as a »cave in [a relatively] short section of canyon. Open canyon of 20 m, a downstream and upstream entrance« where the »Upstream [branch of the intersected cave passage was called a] seasonal exsurgence« while, opposite across the base of the entrance doline, the »downstream [branch of the same cave passage is called a] seasonal sink. Upstream: Entrance (3 m wide, 1.8 m high, trapeze shape). The [cave] passage is of bedding plane character, [on] average 1.5 m high and up to 5 m wide. Round rocks and pebbles [cover the surface of] the floor. Many decorations, flowstone, curtain, straws and stalactites. After about 100 m, the shape changes to a 1 m wide and 3 m high, rift-like passage … [which seems to lead] into knee- to waist-deep water [but from here onwards, the] meandering, well decorated [cave] passage goes on« (Audsley, A U 2010.02.17 Mss: Krem Lymmoh). CAVE DESCRIPTION 2010.02.15: »… Lymmoh canyon … a doline with a dry river bed approx. 5 m wide and a cave [passage] at the downstream end [sic! qua: side] of the doline. There may be a cave [passage] at the upstream end [sic! qua: side]« (Annie U. Audsley, Roger Galloway, Angela Arbenz or Roman Hapka in: Anonymous et al. 2010.03.29 Mss: Diary (current) 2010.doc: February 15th). CAVE CONTENTS: The lower Krem Lymoh contains not only chemoklastic sediments represented by speleothems (flowstone, stalagmites, stalactites, straws, curtains) but also physioklastic sediments including rounded cobble stones and pebbles, sand and mud in addtion to organic matter represented by driftwood and other vegetational debris that has been washed-in during spates and is interpreted as »flood debris« (Arbenz, T 2011.04.10 Mss: Krem Lymmoh-Porcupine_Rec.doc). TACKLE: »Wetsuits can be worn but the cave is only 260 m short with two swims of about 10 m« (Arbenz, T 2011.04.10 Mss: Krem Lymmoh-Porcupine_Rec.doc). CAVE POTENTIAL: By March 2011, no known unexplored leads were known to exists while some aspects of the topographical cave survey were considered »surveyed, no further leads« (Arbenz, T 2011.04.10 Mss). The year before, in February 2010, a »meandering, well decorated [cave] passage goes on« beyond a part of the cave containing »knee- to waist-deep water« (Audsley, A U 2010.02.17 Mss: Krem Lymmoh). SPELEOMETRY 2011: At a survey length of 258.58 m, the vertical range spans ±2.84 m (+3.47 m / -0.96 m) and »the cave is only 260 m short« (Arbenz, T 2011.04.10 Mss: Krem Lymmoh-Porcupine_Rec.doc). SPELEOMETRY 2010: At a survey length of 139.2 m, the vertical range spans ±3 m (+0 m / -2.8 m). CULTURAL HISTORY: None known (Audsley, A U 2010.02.17 Mss: Krem Lymmoh; Arbenz, T 2011.04.10 Mss: Krem Lymmoh-Porcupine_Rec.doc). CAVE LIFE: According to unidentified »inhabitants« (Kharpran Daly 2010.02.14 personal communication, in: Anonymous et al. 2010.03.29 Mss: Diary (current) 2010.doc: 14th February) dwelling on the land surface in the vicinity of the cave entrances, there are fish (Pisces) »in all three caves« viz. Krem –>Enle, Krem Lymoh, and Krem –>Yeji. By April 2011 Arbenz, T. (2011.04.10 Mss) lists the presence of »Crickets, (many) Tiger spiders (Aranea Heteropoda Sparassida) Porcupine (old world) - (Hysterix indicus)« (note 18) but may have copied this bit of information inadvertently from another digital cave record. Nevertheless, this assemblage can be interpreted to represent pre-adult male huntsman spiders (Araneae: Sparassidae: cf. Heteropoda), unspecified Orthoptera, and a Hystrix sp. (Hystricomorpha: Hystricidae). Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 09/02/2016

NOTE 1: ka wah (Khasi, noun) a stream, a river (SINGH, N 1906: 244); a mountain stream (ALLEN, W J 1858: 61), binomial: ka wah - ka um (SINGH, N 1906: 244). long (Khasi, verb) is, to exist, to become (SINGH, N 1906: 118); to be, become, betide (SINGH, N 1920: 39, 40, 44). u máw long (Khasi, noun) a big stone or rock (SINGH, N 1906: 130); crag, rock (SINGH, N 1920: 100, 444).u soh long (Khasi, noun), a lemon (SINGH, N 1906: 208; BAZELY 1992: 34). NOTE 2: Wahlong, literally: Big Stream (of water), is the same as »Wolong« (Major Bivar in: MEDLICOTT, H B 1865: 391 table) and »Wullong« (MEDLICOTT, H B 1865: 421). In November 1995 I recorded at a populated place called Wahlong the GPS position (±150 m) 25°12'29”N: 91°43'25”E : circa (±200 m) 800 m asl (WGS84 modified from 25°12'27”N: 91°43'35”E Everest 1830, Gebauer, H D undated 1995 November unstable 4-channel GPS Garmin 4) where the Survey of India sheets 78-O/12 indicate a village called »Mawthangsokkhyllum« (edition 1912) or »Mawthangsok Khyllum« (edition 1937), apparently a contraction of "maw" (stone) + "thang" (to burn, deflagrate, enkindle, fire, light) + "soh khyllum" »a sour fruit resembling a guava« (SINGH, N 1906: 207). Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 09/02/2016