108 BULLETIN 137, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



The lower ends of the cuirass are turned up and outward so as not to 

 interfere with the leg movement of the wearer. The material has 

 become brittle and no doubt was in that condition when worn by the 

 Moro. Were it not for the unsecured openings at the sides and under 

 the armpits, it w^ould be almost impossible for the ordinary sized 

 Malay Moro to put on this coat of armor. The piece was found in 

 the same house with an ancient Spanish cuirass, together with a 

 heavy leather skirt, obviously also of foreign production. 



Diameter, 27.5 centimeters (10.8 inches) ; height, 41 centimeters 

 (16.2 inches). Collected by Lieut. Jesse S. Harris, United States 

 Army. (PI. 1.) Cat. No. 247716, U.S.N.M. 



Suit of armor., BikoJ., C atanduanes Island. — The suit consists of a 

 helmet, cuirass, and a shield ; the shield has been described under the 

 general caption " Shields." As noted before, employment of raw- 

 hide as material for coats of mail is rare in the Philippines; the 

 crudity of workmanship betrays the fact that unusual conditions 

 must have dictated the choice of this material. The helmet consists 

 of a conical fold of rawhide formed by sewing two ends of an oblong 

 rectangular section of hide together with two-ply native cord of 

 abaca fiber. This forms a funnel-shaped lielmet with a neck flap 

 covering the rear of the nec]^:. The helmet stands 26.5 centimeters 

 (10.4 inches) high w^hen placed vertically. 



The cuirass is formed of the same material, carabao rawhide, and 

 is short and sleeveless, designed to protect the trunk only. There 

 are wrappings of cotton cloth about the neck and armhole openings 

 bound Vt'ith abaca cord ; provisions are made at the sides, underneath 

 the armholes, and down the front for lacings of similar cord. Hide 

 armor is exceedingly rigid and cumbersome. It represents a late 

 introduction in the southern islands. 



Collected by Gen. James W. Bell, United States Volunteers. 

 Cat. No. 209350, U.S.N.M. (PI. 1.) 



Cuirass., Moro., Mindanao. — -This corselet is designed for use in 

 war and is excellently made. It is closely woven of heavy two-ply 

 abaca cord worked in a complex double weave nearh? 1 centimeter 

 thick. The underside of the arm pieces are open, allowing for 

 articulation of the arm joints; the bottom ends of the cuirass are 

 made of 12 flaps, edged with braiding of rattan splints, allowing for 

 leg movements. A loose-fitting collar incloses the neck. The open- 

 ing at the front is closed with lacing of abaca fiber. 



Length of cuirass, 74,8 centimeters (28 inches) ; weight, 10 pounds. 

 Cat. No. 216973, U.S.N.M. (PL 1.) 



Coats of mail., Moro., Iligan., north Mindanao. — Chain and plate 

 armors are splendid examples of a medieval pattern dating back to 

 the fifteenth century. The plates of the specimen (Cat. No. 3478, 

 U.S.N.M.) are of brass, while those of the coat (Cat. No. 3479. 



