Mouth organ; khaen

Kh??n jet, mouth organ. Fourteen bamboo pipes in two rows. The pairs of pipes in each row are of equal length. The four longest pipes are of the same length, and the shorter pipes are arranged in graduated lengths. The pipes are secured in a pale hardwood wind chamber or dao, positioned approximately one third of the way up the pipes, and secured by kisoot, a black wax-like insect secretion. The wind chamber is barrel-shaped with a round mouth hole positioned at the centre of the round concave face at the front, and a short 'tail' ('hang') extending from the back. Each of the pipes has a small, round fingerhole above the wind chamber. The pipes nearest the player have thumbholes on the end face, while the other holes are positioned in rows along the sides. Horizontal lines have been lightly scored on the surface of the pipes, presumably to act as guides for cutting the finger holes. Single digit numbers have been written above or below the finger holes, but most have become illegible. Two rectangular holes are cut out of the inner faces of all the pipes, defining their sounding length. Each of the pipes houses a metal free reed within the windchest. Bindings of bamboo bark are wrapped round the pipes near the top and around the longest three rows near the bottom. Strips of bamboo act as spacers between the two rows beneath these bindings. The pipes are decorated with oblique acid-stained bands arranged in a herringbone pattern.