PRIMITIVE WEAPONS AND ARMOR OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS 63 



The many types of Moro sworck (generalized term '' parano- '') 

 and daggers are variants either of the wavy kris or of the Malay 

 cutlass, variously known as the barong or parang, a lanceolate leaf- 

 shape blade, short, single edged, and thick in section toward the 

 back, resembling somewhat a bolo. The older Malayan weapons, 

 such as the parang-ihlang or kampilan, a long straight single-edged 

 sword with recurved spikelet at the distal end of blade and with 

 huge semicircular guard; the parang-latok ; the talibong; and the 

 curved beheading sword, with long recurved blade, wide at its trun- 

 cated distal end and provided with long unornamented handle 

 usually with double grip; a variet}^ of daggers either curved, 

 straight, or wavy, double-edged, and grooved along the median ridge, 

 together with many different forms of the straight or wavy kris- 

 dagger, are among the more well-laiown weapon types belonging to 

 the Mohammedan Moro. Handles arc sometimes recurved and 

 Aveighted to balance the length and weight of the cutting blade. 

 Handles are of wood, horn, bone, ivory, silver, or other metal and 

 may be beautifully ornamented with geometric or conventionalized 

 animal or bird figure carvings. Braid of silver cord or of rattan 

 alternate with inlaid silver repousse work. In the same manner in 

 which it is possible to trace all of the types of Moro weapons to 

 elementary prototypes, it is similarly possible to trace all decorative 

 design both on blade and handle to simple elementary patterns. As 

 has already been indicated, Moro weapons are typical weapons. of 

 western Malaysia such as w.ere first produced under endemic, and 

 then under Hindu, and later under Arabic influence, but are to-daj'' 

 characteristic not only of Malays adhering to the Mohammedan 

 religion but of the pagan tribes of Malacca, Celebes, Borneo, and 

 Java as well. 



Two generalized types of Philippine swords. — In general, it may 

 be said that all Malayan weapons are derived from one or the other 

 of two sources — a slender curved swordlike combined cutting and 

 thrusting weapon or cutlass of the seafaring Malay which may be 

 traced back to the Turkish and Saracen blades and, more remotely, 

 to the European saber with its fulcrum in the handle grip ; and, sec- 

 ond, to a heavy, slashing weapon Avhich is much older and more 

 native to Malaysia. This weapon is usually slightly curved, having 

 a convex cutting edge and a lieavy blade back. Such a weapon with 

 fulcrum near the distal end of the blade is a typical jungle knife and 

 may easil}' sever a banana or bamboo trunk with one blow. This 

 form of weapon has developed into various types, depending on the 

 occupational need, the tribal bent, and the cultural demands, into 

 the barong, the bolo, forms of the parang such as the ihlang, the 

 latok, and the beheading or executioner's blade. The first type has 



