256 SAVAGE WEAPONS AT THE CENTENNIAL EXHIBITION. 



nationality, the same feature not having been noticed elsewhere. Its 

 purpose is not apparent. The sheath of the kris has a considerable lateral 

 enlargement at the upper end, but that weapon has a corresponding 

 guard. It will be referred to presently, among swords. 



The collection of savage arms from the 

 Portuguese colonies of Angola and Mozam- 

 bique, exhibited in the Agricultural Build- 

 ing, was not excelled in its kind in the whole 

 Exhibition. With many additions, it was 

 again exhibited in Paris in 1878. 



Some of the articles therein shown were 

 from the Banyai of the Zambesi, the Be- 

 en uanas, and tribes with which the parties 

 crossing between the western and eastern 

 coasts of the continent come in contact. 

 Passing south and west to Natal, a very 

 warlike people, the Zulus and Basuto Ka- 

 firs, are encountered. The articles from 

 this people were shown in the Cape of Good 

 Hope collection, and are noticed among 



Fig. 78,-Angola dagger. ^^ ^ gpearg . they dQ nQt uge thfi bow 



and arrow. The assegai is the principal knife of the Kafir. 127 It is of 

 semi-steel of soft temper, and will bend and keep its shape, which is 

 taken advantage of by the natives in making bowls, spoons, and pipes. 

 He prefers it to the steel of the white man, which breaks. The Bechu- 

 anas make the best knives in that region, and barter them to other tribes. 

 The blade has a long lanceolate shape, with two edges, aud 

 the weapon is worn suspended from the neck. 128 The handle, 

 of ivory or wood, is carefully carved, frequently represent- 

 ing an animal, a hyena or giraffe, for instance. The wooden 

 sheath is made of two pieces of wood, hollowed out and 

 bound together with sinews. The same is used among some 

 tribes of Kafirs. The carving tool of the Bechuanas is 

 more like a chisel ; a blade like a thumb-nail in the end of a 

 handle. The Japanese knives are numerous and peculiar.'-'' 



Fig. 79 is a leaf-shaped dagger or seal ping-knife, of iron, 

 with a bone handle, such as is used by the Blackfeet and F| ,';;J !, ;~™^*; 

 Sioux. C. Carver, in his "Travels," says that theleaf-shaped kni f c - 

 dagger, made in his time of bone, was peculiar to the Nadowessioux, 

 or i hat family later known as the Da-ko-tahs or Sioux. 



There is one class of weapons for grappling at close quarters, which 

 may be mentioned here, as it was shown in the exhibit from British 

 India. The baymdk is a five-clawed weapon hidden in the hand, having 

 loops through which the first and fourth fingers are passed. When the 



liT Wood, vol. i, p. 103. ""Casalis' "Basutos," p. 136. 



1S9 SLebold's "Nippon," vii, plate 19, Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6. 



