The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1901-04-19
FILIPINO WEAPONS.
Ugly Knives and Swords Used in War
fare by the Natives.

Ugly Knives and Swords Used in War
fare by the Natives.
| Lieutenant Commander Harry S.
Knapp, United States Navy, has sent a
number Of Filipino weapons to his pa
rents, Mr.. and Mrs. Frederick Knapp,
of IA Columbia street. The weapons
are of great deal of interest They
show what the American soldiers were
UP against in close fighting. They look
uglier than meat axes in a hand-to-
hand conflict. The only implement of
warfare that is not dangerous Except
to the Woman's Christian Temperance
Union) is the canteen, and the Filipino
canteen Is made of bamboo. 1t looks
somthing like the kegs used for oys-
tiers many years ago. The wooden
canteen Is water-tight and is carried
by rope. The slaves are bound with
bark Irvine.
Some Of the large swords and knives
are dangerous to handle. They are carr
ried in sheaths which are lightly
wound about the blade. When the own.
er is walking about looking for fight
he keeps the blade sheathed and does
not remove 1t. 1t is not removed until
the weapon comes down on the head of
an enemy. A hard blow Is delivered,
and as the blade descends 1t 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 cary
QG a int RI lc
home life and marks his social and pro-
fessional rank by it's shape and orna-
mentation. All these instruments are
made by hand. Criminals are usually
made to work in the bolo factories.
Many of the men become expert in wood
and ivory carving, as the handles of
the bolos plainly indicate. The bolo
plays an important part in the mystic
dance performed prior to a marriage,
the members of the family prostrating
themselves before it and swearing alle-
glance to it.
The campilan Is the regular arm of
the Moro private soldier. 1t is about
four feet long and very sharp. It's
scabbard consists of two pieces of wood
loosely tied together. 1t is never I'M
pICdtHCo loA the HIol SllOhC. liC
blade cuts through the wood, thus I'M
sheathing itself, The handle of the
campilan is of ebony of mahogany.
The kris is the favorte weapon of the
staff officers. 1t is from two to three
feet long. One-third of lne way down
from the tip it ripples in little wavelats
of steel. This sword inflicts a CHASTITY
wound.t The approved kris stroke is for
the body, with peculiar weaving mo-
ton of the wrist, supposed to send the
blade home and spread the wound. The
blade is often inlaid with gold and
sometimes with pearls and other jewels.
In theory this is to make it flash in the
light as 1t is brandished above the head.
One of the most interesting weapons
is the talibong, sort of headsman's
axe. 1t is from four to five feet long
and weighs from four to eight pounds. !
Companies using these weapons act as
an advance guard. The weapons are
also used by the official headsmen in |
criminals. The chief use
of the talibong, from which it got its |
name, was to sever the head of the vic |
tim fallen in battle.
During the continuous warfare be- |
tween the Moros and the Spaniards the
Moro army was armed almost eXclu- |
sively with bolos. There is peace be- |