78 BULLETIN 137, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



lower and shorter. Two parallel grooves extend one-half the length 

 of blade; these grooved etchings divide the lateral surfaces longi- 

 tudinally into three sectors, obviating the employment of a median 

 ridge. The blade is a rare old weapon and was employed by the 

 executioner and priest. The guard is a circular hardwood disk; 

 stirrups are not employed. The hardwood handle is carved and 

 has an extended pommel resembling the tail fin of a fish, a char- 

 acteristic form. 



Length of weapon, 66.1 centimeters (26 inches). Collected by 

 Miss Isobel H. Lenman. (PL 1.) Cat. No. 303794, U.S.N.M. 



Kris, Moro, Mindanao. — This steel blade has five waves on each of 

 the two cutting edges; a median ridge follows each wave through- 

 out its course. There is a guard piece made of two ornamental 

 pieces of steel projecting posteriorly and anteriorly in character- 

 istic Moro pattern. This is characteristic of the guard forms of 

 most of the older weapons which do not show influence of European 

 acculturation. The guard piece is secured by means of a stirrup 

 which is itself fastened, as are the stirrups in No. 216885, by looped 

 spikes inserted between wooden grip and its cord wrapping, which 

 extends from guard to pommel. The pommel is of sea-cow ivory 

 carved in sigmoid curve. The scabbard is of wood and is well made. 

 The two hollowed slabs of which it is composed are glued together 

 with a cement similar to the black paste that covers the cord wrap- 

 ping on the hilt. The scabbard does not cover the guard, and stops 

 short of it. One narrow band of carabao horn encircles the scab- 

 bard near its base. 



Length of blade, 58.5 centimeters (23 inches) ; length of weapon, 

 72.8 centimeters (28.6 inches). Collected by Mrs. Caroline E. Bates. 

 (PI. 14, No. 5.) Cat. No. 290482 U.S.N.M. 



Kris., Moro., Mindanao. — The steel blade has two wave crests near 

 the proximal end, but remainder of blade is straight. Four short 

 grooves merge into one anotlier 11 centimeters (4.4 inches) from 

 the guard. Two parallel grooves extend nearly to the point and 

 divide the blade transversely into three equal sectors. There is but 

 one guard stirrup, which is placed anteriorly, the posterior guard 

 section, although of much longer projection, has no stirrup. In 

 this specimen, as in many other Moro krisses, the section of guard 

 projecting downward or anteriorly is much thicker in section, also 

 shorter, than the posterior section; it has also much more highly 

 ornamental chiseled openwork, mostly in form of scrolls and curves 

 resembling the ogee S shape, often so arranged as to resemble the 

 human face. The hardwood grip is wrapped with bands of rattan 

 braid woven in a complex cross plait. 



Length of blade, 56.5 centimeters (22.2 inches). Collected by 

 J. M. Harkins. (PI. 14, No. 1.) Cat. No. 213665, U.S.N.M. 



