Honey Trap?

Another low-tech but effective piece of local ingenuity is featured here. They were not in use, but covered in sand, so I suppose that is where they had previousy been placed.

 

They are about 20 cm tall and perhaps 14 cm across at the widest point. They are like modified jars in that the open neck has a stopper in the form of a ball, but with a skewer through it that prevents it being accidentally removed.

 

But the most important modification to the jar design is the little doorway and metal flap near the base. The flap is very light and the smallest push will open it inwards. But it won't open outwards!

 

So what was this designed to trap? Answers, please, on an electronic postcard. No prizes, though; it's not so difficult, I think.

Comments

[Kris]

Cat tells me it is called "Kong". (spelling is up to the reader) It is a food carrying device in so much as you can put all the live food in from the top and also from that only opening inward bottom doorway. Simple yet very effective, works a treat!!

[mirhtseeker]

Ha! Fish traps! The "stopper" is actually a container for appropriate fish food, and the fish or eels enter through the flaps at the bottom. These are rather crude ones, others I have seen have inward facing bamboo spikes, rather than flaps, to prevent egress of the prey.

[Lawrence]

Thanks, guys. A "Kong" certainly, so thanks to Kris and Cat for that.

And mirthseeker is also right about it being used as a trap here. In this part of Isan I guess we are all too gentle to use bamboo spikes. They sound really nasty. Makes me think of tiger traps more than fish and eels (and lizards).