Hi Emanuel,
I am not certain as to why the scales were so expensive....but I would speculate that an animal which was revered and had few natural preditors would thrive. One of the advantages of having Pangolin living nearby was they kept the ant/termite population down. I would imagine that there were sufficent numbers but due to the belief system ....few would be killed for their scales. It appears that only certain individuals had the authority to kill the animals.......perhaps this is the reason the scales were so valuable because of their scacity.
The pandolin is now an endangered species.......the scales are used in Chinese medicine. In Africa, today......many have been killed for 'bushmeat'...perhaps after colonialism and the import of Religion , the animalistic belief system, perhaps 'broke down'.....and animals once revered are now considered 'fair game'.
I cannot find any references to the construction of African scale armour.....but as 'padded' armour seems common to the Region....it would seem likely that the scales were fixed to a padded garment. Other than the head gear mentioned in a previous thread, I can find no other reference to the hide (with scales) being used on its own. I can only assume that the scales were used individually.....perhaps the scales could easily (relatively) be seperated from the hide (not good for armour) and/or the scales are 'sized' and placed where necessary......smaller ones in areas of greatest movement(arms, shoulders) and larger ones for the chest and back.
Seeing that the pangolin is seen as a mediator between humanity and the animal world. I am wondering whether the armour was believed to endow the wearer with 'animalistic characteristics' whilst in battle.
The Indian scale armour, I posted, is covered in gold leaf....hence its enhanced beauty. The scales are made of keratin (as is hair, nails and Rhino horn) and I would imagine could easily be dyed with red ochre (as it easily stains hair).
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