Traditional tales are timeless narratives which, with each retelling retain its magical allure. These tales transcends generations and are passed down orally.
Traditional stories offer a glimpse into the collective imagination of mankind, connecting us to the past and offers insights into the human experience across time and space. These tales are not only enchanting and entertaining but also moral lessons are often woven into the very fabric of the narrative.
More often than not, traditional tales take listeners to mystical realms where trees speak, heroes conquer mythical creatures and animals cook but have you ever heard a tale so on point with facts that you cannot help but be mind blown?
Yes! You read it right. Traditional tale based on facts. Intriguing enough?
During the olden days, friend group normally called as Zungar(in Ao- Naga dialect) is said to have worked together in each of their family’s paddy field on a rotation basis.
Crab personified as her/she also went to the paddy field with her close-knit companions, Zungar. The circle of friends included the crab, a water strider, a frog and a tadpole. The story has it that it was a mid-summer month, field works aplenty and numerous grasses to be weeded out. That fine day, the crab was assigned to cook for the group.
The crab courageously decided to take matters into her own claws and with remarkable resilience, meticulously amputated one of her claws and tossed it in the pot. Using her culinary skills she crafted a sumptuous meal for her close knits and called them up to the resting shed. Her friends gathered and marveled at the tender and flavourful dish and devoured it. Upon asking by her friends what is behind the tasteful flavor, she simply replied “It’s a secret”.
Next day again, the friends went about their day’s work in one of their fields and told the crab to cook for the day as well. Just like the previous day, she amputated her other claw and prepared another sumptuous meal showcasing her ingenuity. Her friends again devoured the whole meal and praised the crab for her excellent cooking skills.
The crab was assigned to cook every day until all her 8 pereiopods and her 2 claws were cooked for her friends. On the fateful day, the crab was again told to take over the kitchen. With no grown appendages in her thorax, the crab encountered an adversity.
Since the crab did not have her claws to cook. She decided to rummage through the ingredients lying at the bamboo drying rack above the hearth. While reaching for the vegetables, she accidently slipped and fell directly into the boiling pot.
Meanwhile, the frog, the water strider and the tadpole waited for their friend to call them for lunch yet they did not hear any call way past noon. Thus, they decided to go and see for themselves. Horror struck when they saw their friend floating atop all the ingredients in the pot, all cooked and red devoid of any appendages.
The trio could not contain their laughter on seeing their poor friend’s fate and this changed their physiologies for eternity. The frog laughed so hard that its back bone cracked and that’s how frogs got a hump on its back.
The tadpole’s throat underwent a subsequent expansion while laughing. Therefore, it is said that a tadpole have an enlarged throat.
The water strider cupped its eyes with its palm shielding them from the horrendous sight and till this day, it is said that the water striders habitually cup their face with their palms.
But can a crab amputate its own limb?
Sometime between the end of last year and the beginning of this year, a video of a crab amputating its own claw went viral on both the micro blogging platforms- twitter and Instagram, The video was first uploaded to Youtube more than a decade ago, and a clip from the video went viral.
Apparently, it is normal for a crab to declaw itself as Zoology proves that crabs can remove its appendage when injured. The claws that are amputated as a result of trauma or on accident usually grow back on its own. It is a survival stunt performed by the crustaceans.
This tale about the Crab and her friends must have had you convinced that it isn’t a coincidence or simply a made up one and that One of our ancestors might’ve been a zoo enthusiast and must have high-key gone on a thorough study on life cycle of a fresh water crab.
We hope you enjoyed today’s tale!
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