PRIMITIVE WEAPONS AND ARMOIl OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS 93 



ment and shape with a similar spur projecting from the back at the 

 base of the ax head, which, however, has no cutting edge. The iron 

 tang is inserted into a wooden handle and is held in place by a 

 very long slightly concave iron ferrule. The handle is of hard brown 

 wood. A K})ur projection at the center is arranged as a hand stop, 

 insuring firmness of grip. The position and shape of this spur 

 vary among the different tribes employing the head ax and together 

 with the form and size of the blade indicate tribal bent and tradition. 



Length over all, 56.5 centimeters (22.2 inches) ; length of blade, 

 30.6 centimeters (12 inches) ; width of blade, 12 centimeters (1.7 

 inches) ; ferrule, 15.3 centimeters (6 inches) long; length of handle 

 beyond the ferrule, 31 centimeters (12.2 inches). This is an early 

 type of Igorot ax and was collected by the Admiral Wilkes exploring 

 expedition, 1838-1842. Cat. No. 5654, U.S.N.M. (PI. 1.) 



Head «a?, Moro^ Mhtdcmao. — The blade and handle in general simi- 

 lar weapons employed by the pagan tribes of northern Luzon. This 

 ax has a chiseled blade and a projecting spike-shaped pole spur. 

 The cutting edge is but slightly concave. The greatest projection 

 of blade is at the outer rim in line with the spike pole at the back 

 of the ax head. The blade is of such shape that it may be converted 

 into an adz or an ax by revolving. The iron ferrule is unusually 

 long, extending over half the entire handle length; it is slightly con- 

 cave and is like an hourglass in outline. The handle beyond the fer- 

 rule is of red lauan and is shouldered with a short projecting spur 

 placed immediately back of a grip constriction of the handle. The 

 handle back of the shoulder is ferruled Avith numerous copper and 

 silver filleted bands. The silver fillets are punched with figures in 

 geometric pattern; the copper fillets are plain. 



Length of handle, ferrule, and blade, 53.5 centimenters (21 inches) ; 

 length of blade, 32 centimeters (12.6 inches) ; length of ferrule, 22.8 

 centimeters (9 inches). Collected by Mrs. H. C. Corbin. Cat. No. 

 258299, U.S.N.M. (PL 1.) 



Beheading sword^ Mbto^ Malabamj^ Mindanao. — This heavy steel 

 chopping blade "tabas" (Moro) is convexly curved at cutting edge 

 and concave at back, but bioadens toward the abruptly truncated 

 distal end. Distal end has a width of 9.7 centimeters (3.8 inches), 

 vvhile the end nearest the handle has a width of but 3 centimeters 

 (1.2 inches). A well-defined median ridge extends the entire length 

 of the blade, which is diamond shape in section. Handle has a two- 

 handed grip section wrapped with rattan braid; pommel consists of 

 highly polished red lauan wood provided with incised carvings ar- 

 ranged in parallel lines and in other geometric patterns inlaid with 

 lime. 



