The Savannah morning news., 1901-04-22
FILIPINO WEAPONS.
Ugly Knives and swords Used I'm
Warfare by the Natives.

From the Hartford Comm Courant.
Lieut.. Commander Harry s. Knapp
United States Navy, has sent a number
of Filipino weapons TO his parents, Mr..
and Mrs. Frederick Knapp Of IA Columbia
street. The weapons are of a great deal
of interest. They show what the Ameri-
can soldiers were up against in close
fighting. They look urglier than meat
axes in a hand-to-hand conflict. The only
implement of warfare that is not dan
gerous Except to the Woman's Christian
Temperance Union) Is the canteen, and
the Filipino canteen les made of bamboo
Ii looks something like the kegs used for
oysters many years ago. The wooden can
teen Is watertght and is carried by a
rope. Tho slaves are bound with bark
twine.
Some of the large swords and knives are
dangerous to handle. They are carried
In sheaths which are lightly wound about
the blade. When the owner is walking
about looking for a fight he keeps the
blade sheathed and does not remove it.
IL Is not removed until the weapon comes
down on the head OF an enemy. A hard
blow is delivered. and as the blade de-
sends ii cuts through the Irvine that
holds the sheath and is buried in the SKULL
the sheath falling apart in two pieces.
There are some interesting specimens
of bolos. Every Filipino and Moro has
his bolo. He does not necessarily carry
II as war weapon. 1t enters into his
home life and marks his social and pro-
fessional rank by its shape and ornamen.
tstion. AA these Instruments are made
by hand. Criminals are usually made to
work in the boo factories. Many of the
men become expert in wood and ivory
carving. the handles of the boios
plainly indicate. The bolo plays an i'm
portant part In the mystic dance per-
formed prior to a marriage. the members
of the family prostratlng themselves be-
fore 1t and swearing allegiance to 1t.
The campilaH is the regular arm of
the Moro private soldier 1t is about
four feet long and very sharp. It's scsb-
bard consists of two pieces of wood
sheathed for the frst sttokee The brt6t.
cuts through the wood, thus unsheath-
ing itself. The handle of the campian is
| OF abony or mahogany.
The kris 10 the favorite weapon of the
| staff officers. 1t is from two to three
! feet long. One-third OF the way down
from the tip 1t ripples in little wavelets
| of steel. This sword inhfcts a CHASTITY
| wound. The approved kris stroke is for
| the body. with a peculiar weaving motion
OF the wrist supposed to send the blade
home and spread the wound. The blade
| Is often inlad with gold and sometimes
| with pearls and other Jewels In theory
this is to make 1t flash in the light as II
| Is brandished above the head. s
One of the most interesting weapons Is
| the talibong, q sort OF headsman's ak. II
Is from four to Ave feet long and weighs
| from four to eight pounds. Companies
using these weapons act an advance
| guard. The weapons are also used by the
| official headsmen In decapitating erim-
mails. The chief use OF the talibong from
which II got its name, was to sever the
| head of the victim fallen in battle. ~,
| During the continuous warfare between
the Moros and the Spanlards the Moro
army was armed almost exclusively with
bolos. There is peace between the Moros
! and the Americans. In the north Of the
archipelago a form of boio is used
an agricultural instrument, for the gath
| ering and harvesting of crops.