The Savannah morning news., 1901-02-10

fessionaI significance of the arm by the
Moros of Mindanao is tacitly accepted all
over the Philippine Islands as official.
Oficers and men of Importance in the
Filipino army and government accept this
classification.
All of the bolos are made by hand, and
the workmanship is so ornate and beauti-
full it compares favoraby with the pest
work OF ancient armorers.
There is a fine specimen or two OF the
bolo called the sundang, a type best
known in Luzon and the northern islands.
1t has a dangerous looking blade about
eighteen inches long, thick at the back,
broad in the middle, and pointed Inc
ornate handle curves in such way as to
bring the full force of the blow at the
point of the blade. This one has-as most
of them have-a wooden scabbard, the
metal handle having a shield OF bamboo.
The ownership of sundang bolo places
a man in the laboring class, as 1t Is the
implement of agriculture as well as the
weapon of the private soldier.
The "campian" is the most curious OF
the entire collection. 1t has a hilt and
guard of gracefully wrought metal and
slender blade. The curious feature IS That
the blow is made without removing the
carved wooden scabbard, which is in two
pieces, loosely tied together. The threads
are severed by the keen edge OF the IN
strument in making the blow. 1t IS
greatly priced. as it obviates the neces-
sity of removing the scabbard by other
means.
A "campilan" is, when it has tuft OF
hair on the hilt the weapon of the Moro
officer below the rank of major, but with
out the tuft of hair it is the faVorlte wea-
pom of the private soldier.
The bolo that carries the insignia of
leadership is the kris" and when used
by these high dignitaries has gold and
jeweled handle. Capt Vanleer secured
several specimens of the kris after
great difficulties. All of them have zig
gag blades of from two and a half to
three feet in length and about two inches
wide, sharp on either edge.
1t is always the insignia of office OF the
Moros of Mindano, and they use it with
waving motion which greatly enlarges
the wound it makes.
A bolo called the 'teroida" is much the
same but less ornate and is carried by
non-commissioned officers.
The Filipinos have another bolo which
they call the borong, which also Indicates
rank but of the forum and council, ana II
it carried by the Moro Sultans.
Even the women and children OF any
social pretention possess q bolo and this
too has its curious name, the "punal de
kris" 1t is shorter than our table knife,
has a pointed blade, and a cleverly carved
handle of precious metal The scabbard
is highly ornamental
The most ominous and wicked looking
bolo of all is one called the "talibong,
which carries with it great social distinc-
ton and is a kind of headsman's sword or
AK 1t weighs about eight pounds, and
generally is carried in the advance line
of attack and also by the official heads
man, who formerly decapitated the
wounded enemy upon the field OF battle
The private soldier has dirty looking
dirk which he calls his pocket knife, both
the handle and blade being curved in the
most dangerous manner. The curators OF
the museum consider the collection of
bolos almost beyond money value as
they were obtained under the greatest
possible difficulty.