94 BULLETIlSr 137, UNITED STATES NATIONAL. MUSEUM 



Length of blade, 51.6 centimeters (20.3 inches) ; length of handle, 

 37 centimeters (14.6 inches). Collected by Lieut. Col. George C. 

 Shaw, United States Army. Cat. No. 324256, U.S.N.M. (PL 9, 

 No. 1.) 



Sioord chopper, ^^ Pivah^'' Moro, Mindanao. — The blade is long, 

 crescentic, broad and heavy backed, sharp pointed, deeply bellied, 

 and has elbow at the neck region or base of blade at the termination 

 of the cutting edge. The handle grip is carved from ebonylike cama- 

 gon wood, plain surfaced as to grip portion, and richly carved with 

 finely shaped geometric surface etchings on pommel. Pommel is 

 shaped with spike button and bilateral downward projecting re- 

 curved horns, which are symbolic. The scabbard is well formed, 

 composed of two hollowed sections of red lauan wood glued together, 

 highly carved on the outside, and rubbed with lime in incisions. 



Length of weapon, 82 centimeters (31.5 inches). Collected by Mrs. 

 Caroline E. Bates. (PL 9, No. 6.) Cat. No. 290488, U.S.N.M. 



Talibong, Mora, Mindarmo. — This variety of the Moro execu- 

 tioner's sword or talibong is rare. The blade possesses two curves 

 forming a nearly complete sigmoid outline. The blade section near- 

 -est thie handle extends downward or anteriorly in a prominent curve, 

 while the posterior section of back is broad near the handle; it is 

 sharpened toward distal end sector to a cutting edge similar to Cat. 

 No. 232741, U.S.N.M. The heavy wood handle grip is two-handed 

 and plain. Wrapping of cord and narrow bands of braided bejuco 

 serve to keep the metal tang in position. 



Length of weapon, 114.4 centimeters (3 feet 8 inches). Collected 

 by J. W. Harkins. (PL 9, No. 5.) Cat. No. 213652, U.S.N.M. 



Talibong, Bagoho, Davao Province, Mindanao. — A convexo-con- 

 cave chopping blade formed with one great L-shaped angle near 

 the center of its course, as in the Malay parong-latok. The blade is 

 thin in section and diminishes uniformly from the back to cutting 

 edge; back of blade is tapered from grip to distal end. A recurved 

 billhook, which among other uses is employed in opening coconuts, 

 projects from the distal end of blade at the center. This is also a 

 characteristic feature of the Moro kampilan. Other projections at 

 distal end are conventionalized survivals of a more ornamental de- 

 sign, but recur in almost identical pattern on most swords of this 

 type. The surface of blade is rough and pitted ; a crack on back near 

 the center is due to bending of blade backward at an angle while 

 being forged. There is no guard or washer; handle is designed for 

 two hands and is formed of one piece of a white hardwood bisected 

 for a distance of 16.8 centimeters (6,8 inches) from blade end for 

 the insertion of flattened metal tang. Small bamboo splints are 

 placed at the sides of the tang piece to close opening slits in grip. 



