SAVAGE WEAPONS AT THE CENTENNIAL EXHIBITION. 2G1 



Fig - . 87 is a saber brought by Capt. Long (Bey) from the Soudan Expedi- 

 tion. It has a boldly curved steel blade and a wooden handle. The 

 sheath and belt are 

 of leather. The Nu- 

 bian cimeter is, per- 

 haps, even a little 

 more curved than 

 that shown from 

 Soudan; but doubt- 

 less the weapons of 

 a district vary, and 

 are not con lined rig- 

 idly to a certain 

 curve, as in some 

 countries where 

 such things are de- 

 fined in the "Regu- 

 lations." The curve 

 in each case is much 

 greater than that of 



,, , ,, , Fig. 87.— Saber of Soudan, Africa. 



the y.o-L-, the east- 

 ern cimeter of classic times. The Apongos use a cimeter of similar shape, 

 and with a handle shaped like a dice-box. The blade is 4 feet long. No 

 other cimeter of Africa has so peculiar a bend as the shotel of the Abys- 

 sinians. 137 The blade is nearly straight for two feet, and then suddenly 

 makes a turn of about sixty degrees. The edge is on the concave side, 

 and it is intended that the poiut shall reach over the top of an enemy's 

 shield. The blade is wider and heavier toward the point. It is of soft 

 iron, has a rhinoceros-horn handle, and is swung on the right side. 



Among the most curious weapons of the savage world are the hurling 

 cimeters — if they may be so called — the trumbashes of the Niam-niams. 138 

 The term is from Sennaar, and refers generally to the missile weapons of 

 the negroes. The trumbash of the Mam-mams (Jculbeda) Fig. 26, con- 

 sists ordinarily of several limbs of iron with pointed prongs and sharp 

 edges. Somewhat similar implements are used by the tribes of the Tsad 

 basin, and a weapon on the same principle is used by the Marghy and 

 Musgoo. The Niam-niams carry them attached to the insides of their 

 shields ready for duty, and hurl them with great rapidity, force, and 

 accuracy. They are made by the skillful smiths of the Monbnttoo tribe 

 of the Welle River. A hurling axe shaped like a sickle is also used by 

 the troops of the scheik of Borneo. It is known as a hunga-munga and 

 somewhat resembles the trumbash of the Niam-niams. The Tibboos, 

 west < >f X nl >ia, use a missile sword, as do also the Fans of Western Africa. 

 The Fan weapon is flat and pointed, and near the handle is a sharp pro- 

 jection. 



137 Wood, vol. i, p. 718. 



13H Schwemfurth's "Africa," vol. ii, p. 10. 



