Mysterious Graves, Writings & Dark secrets in Gua Kelam - Literally "Dark Cave" in Perlis, Malaysia скачать в хорошем качестве

Mysterious Graves, Writings & Dark secrets in Gua Kelam - Literally "Dark Cave" in Perlis, Malaysia

Follow my adventure inside Gua Kelam literally Dark Cave in Perlis, Malaysia to encounter hidden passages, poignant Chinese writings on the cave walls done by the Chinese labourers who worked on the mine. Some that died while working in the cave were buried in special cave chambers under mounds of meticulously arranged rocks that few eyes have seen! Gua Kelam is a limestone cave and recreational attraction located in Kaki Bukit, a small town in the northern Malaysian state of Perlis (about 33–36 km north of the state capital, Kangar) in Peninsular Malaysia. 📍 What It Is The name Gua Kelam translates roughly to “Dark Cave” — named for the naturally dark interior of the cave tunnel. It is a limestone cave system carved by an underground stream over thousands of years and historically was a passage for tin miners transporting ore through the valley during the British colonial era. 📍 Where It Is Location: Gua Kelam, Kaki Bukit, Perlis, Malaysia. Kaki Bukit is a small town situated roughly 26–33 km north of Kangar and close to the Malaysia–Thailand border. Historical Role of Mining at Gua Kelam Tin mining was central to Gua Kelam’s human history — especially during the early to mid-20th century: Discovery of tin ore: Tin (in the form of high-quality alluvial ore) was discovered in and around the limestone near Gua Kelam by miners, particularly in the first half of the 20th century. This discovery made the area an active tin mining site. Use of the cave as a mining passage: Gua Kelam’s natural limestone tunnel was adapted and used as a transport route for tin ore. Miners and transporters moved tin ore through the cave from the Wan Tangga Valley toward Kaki Bukit and beyond, taking advantage of the cave’s existing geological passage. Infrastructure for mining: Historical remnants inside the cave — such as old rails, iron trolleys, wooden joists, and miner walkways — relate directly to this mining past. These artefacts were part of the logistical system for hauling ore and equipment. Naming and mining life: The cave’s Malay name Gua Kelam (“dark cave”) was reportedly given by tin miners because of its pitch-black interior, where they had to use carbide lamps during work. Historical records show that the miners who worked at Gua Kelam were primarily Chinese labourers brought in to exploit the tin deposits in the area, along with local Malay miners at the earliest stages of mining activity: 👷‍♂️ Who the Miners Were 1. Chinese Tin Miners In the mid-20th century, after high-quality tin ore was discovered near Gua Kelam, large numbers of Chinese miners were brought in to work the tin deposits. Starting around 1935, the Kong Fatt Mining Company took over mining operations and brought about 2,000 workers from China to mine and transport tin ore through the cave system. These labourers worked and lived inside sections of the cave, divided into groups with makeshift living and work areas. These Chinese miners formed the majority of the workforce during the cave’s commercial tin mining period. 2. Local Miners in Early Mining Before corporate operations, local Malay miners (for example a Malay man named Nayan at Sungai Pelarit near the area) are reported to have started tin mining operations and initially worked the alluvial tin deposits. However, when tin mining was industrialised and scaled up in the 1930s, local mining operations were purchased or overtaken by larger companies that relied heavily on imported Chinese labour. 👣 Working Conditions and Remains The miners worked inside the dark cave passages with carbide lamps, giving the cave its Malay name Gua Kelam (“Dark Cave”). Remnants from their work — such as iron trolley tracks, wooden walkways, metal fittings and wall graffiti — can still be seen in the cave today. 🧭 How Mining Relates to the Cave’s Formation It’s important to distinguish between geological formation and human use: Natural formation: The cave itself is a karst limestone cave formed naturally over geological time (through water dissolving limestone), not by mining. Human modification: While mining did not form the cave in a geological sense, human mining activity modified portions of the natural passage, adding tracks, walkways, and transport systems for tin extraction and movement. These modifications are part of the cave’s mining heritage. 📌 Summary of Mining’s Role Tin discovery brought mining interest to the Gua Kelam area. The cave served as a strategic underground route to move tin ore and equipment between mining sites and transport access points. Mining infrastructure was installed inside the cave, leaving historical artefacts that remain visible today. Mining did not create the cave’s geological structure but shaped how people interacted with and used it in the modern past.