9/9/09

Northeast Thailand : The Krading Kampu, or Crab Bell

The Krading Kampu, or Crab Bell

Known in Thai as Krading Kampu, Pu Krading, the crab bell was a kind of toy enjoyed by Thai children living on rural rice farms in days past. Adults often hung the crab bell on a platform in the rice field, or in a hut in the middle of the field, for children could hear the chimes from the crab bell as it swung in the wind.




Large land crabs with their huge claws often destroyed rice saplings prompting farmers to catch them as food for the family. After consuming all the crab-meat they would make a simple toy from the claws, using one claw tied to string or tread to strike against the crab shell. The claw, acting as the clapper, was then fastened inside the crab shell and adjusted to swing easily when the wind blew thus making a chiming sound.



Leaves of palm trees are used as propellers which are tied to the upper part of the crab bells, to produce beautiful, musical chimes whenever the wind blows.



Now-a-day the land crabs in the Northeast of Thailand are not that abundant as they once where, so for the picture you need to do it with a living example