Identifier: handbooktoethnog00brit (find matches)
Title: Handbook to the ethnographical collections
Year: 1910 (1910s)
Authors: British Museum. Dept. of British and Mediaeval Antiquities and Ethnography Joyce, Thomas Athol, 1878-1942 Dalton, O. M. (Ormonde Maddock), 1866-1945
Subjects:
Publisher: (London) : Printed by order of the Trustees
Contributing Library: University of California Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN

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for linked chain-mailwas n(jt in common use in the West before the thirteenth century. The light parrying-sljelds made of two reversed antelope-horns,(>r of metal in imitation of these, form a connecting link )>etvveendefensive and oflensive arms, as the tips of the horns could also beus(;d as (higgers (tig. 40 h). Of the olfensive weapons, swords are the most numerous. Tiiemost important typ<S r(j)resented in the Collection are illustratedherewith. Fig. Hi) c shows the Persian and Afghan hilt:fig. 89,/ an ordinary form of tulwar, the sword in general use 46 ASIA in India. The K/utnda, fig. 39^, is a sword largely used byRajputs and Mahrattas, and the gauntlet-sword (Faki), fig. 39 fc,was the especial weapon of the Mahratta Cavalry. It wasusually furnished with a flexible blade of European manu-facture, and was used for thrusting only. The short crutch-sword, or dagger (Zafar Talilah, fig. 39;^), was placed by Rajahsat the corner of the divan as a precaution against surprise.
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Fig. 88.—Steel helmet, damascened and chased, of Abbasthe Great, Shah of Persia (1586-1628). Dated 1625-6. Fig. 39 d illustrates the formidable Khyber knife used by Afghansand l)y the neighbouring tril^es of the North-West Frontier. The sword in fig. 39 a is a typical Turkish yataghan. Fig. 41 arepresents the Sinhalese sword (Ceylon). Of the dnggers, figs.39 h and m are Persian, with hilts of typical forms, often ofcarved ivory or of brilliantly enamelled metal, while the bladesare finely damascened. Circassian daggers (fig 39^j) have some ORIENTAL ARMS AND ARMOUR 47 resemblance to the Persian types. Fig. 39 e represents a commonform of straight Indian dagger; the point has in this case beenthickened, to penetrate chain-mail. Fig. 39 r is a curvedIndian dagger. Fig. 391 has a blade of Arab type, but comesfrom Cutch, of which place the gilt metal-work on the hilt ischaracteristic. Fig. 39/« is a thrusting-dagger (jaindhar) ofa shape peculiar to India. Fig. 39 o, also peculiar to Ind

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