PRIMITIVE WEAPONS AND AlIMOU OF TliE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS 47 



its handle; the grip is fitted to the fmo;ers and is expanded at the 

 base end into a curved biiid pommel similar to that found on the 

 parangs of the Bagobo terminating in a double ogee curve sep- 

 arated by a median cleft. The average length of the war clubs of 

 this type is 53.5 centimeters (21 inches) ; the diameter at the strii-c- 

 ing point is of an average thickness of 4.5 centimeters (1.7 inches). 



War clubs: Luzon; Suhanu'ri^Zaniboanga^Mindmuio. — The wooden 

 fighting club of the Subanun, of Pantaleon, Mindanao, closely re- 

 sembles the wooden throwing club of the Luzon tribes; both clubs 

 are formed from a heavy hardwood of the molave type, tapered 

 from a bulbous curved head to a handle grip at the base end. A 

 knob or button consisting of a slight enlargement at the base or 

 grip end prevents the hand from slipping and acts as a leverage : 

 in the Luzon club, the button or pommel terminates in a bud-shape 

 tip at the end of the grip, Vv-hile in the Subanun club the tip is 

 truncated. The Luzon club is octagonal in section, while the Sub- 

 anun club is circular except at the bulbous, distal end curvature, 

 where it, too, is octagonal in outline. This fighting club is an old 

 form of weapon in the Philippines and the practical identity of 

 form in such wddely separated regions as Luzon and Mindanao 

 would seem to indicate that the throwing or fighting club had at 

 one time a wide dissemination. 



Length of clubs, average 54.G centimeters (21 inches). Subanun 

 club collected by the Philippine Island Commission, Louisiana 

 Purchase Exposftion. (Cat. No. 235239, U.S.N.M.) Luzon club 

 collected by Miss Isobel H. Lenman. (Cat. No. 31G()28, U.S.N.M.) 



The second type of clubbed weapon from the Philippine Islands 

 embraces a miscellaneous collection of w^ooden sword clubs, 

 clubbed shields, blades fashioned from the teeth of the sawfish, whips 

 formed from the tail of the sting ray, and flagellation rods; a mis- 

 cellaneous grouping of clubbed weapons that is difficult to classify, 

 but which may be conveniently considered here. In clubs and strik- 

 ing weapons of this .sort the distinction lies chiefly in the manner 

 in which the head or striking part is attached or formed. Another 

 interesting consideration lies in the object that has been employed 

 to serve as the striking or cutting edge. 



Wooden sv'ord cluh^ FAlcol^ Camarines Province^ Luzon. — The use 

 of hand clubs, throwing clubs, and clubbed shields comes earlier 

 in the history of Malaysian weapons than that of sword clubs. This 

 example of the edged sword club is formed from palmwood and 

 conforms in general outline to the kampilan, or heavy fighting 

 sw^ord of the southern island tribes. It is clearly modeled along the 

 lines of the metallic weapons of similar shape and does not con- 

 stitute a connecting link betw^een the curved fighting club of the 

 Subanun and the metallic parang (sword). It is a heavy weapon, 



