East Timor Independence Sword

[Mudi]

This sword is very special. It is noble history of people who fight to be free. Our good friend Pedro Lopez owned this from grandfather and sold it some years ago. This is what was described about it then written by research person who interviewed Pak Pedro

For big picture

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2006-...11/Timtim1.jpg

This is a fine sword, with a buffalo horn sheath, embellished with a horse hair plume, and an 18th or 19th century European blade, engraved by the patriot owner. This wonderful artifact is from Dili, East Timor.

The quest for independence by the people of East Timor is a well documented, and even recently a most eventful quest. This sword comes from the grandson of the original owner, Erika Francisko Suares of Manuko Liria, Dili, East Timor. Manuko Liria basically translates to the house name, or family kampung, family concentration as it were, or family members within the city of Dili itself. The grandson?s name is Pedro K. Lopez. The blade is engraved as follows:

ERIKA FRANCISKO SUARES.K.MANUKO LIRIA.TIMOR-TIMUR.DILI

"Timur" means East. For example, East Java is called "Java Timur." East Timor is "Timor-Timur" or often called "tim-tim." Mr. Lopez vividly recounted the exploits of his grandfather, Erika Francisko, beginning in the late 19th century as a young man, a son of the Liurai, or native Timorese rulers against the Portuguese. As he recounts, during the bloody rebellions between 1893 and 1912, this sword was "busy." The sword was then retired during what Mr. Lopez calls the sleepy depression of East Timor during WWI up until WWII.

Then, upon the occupation and oppression of the Japanese, it was "re-awoken." The role of this sword during that period is not totally clear. Both his grandfather and father were "underground" combatants aligned to the Australian troops in East Timor to fight and resist Japanese occupation. By the end of WWII, some 40,000 to 60,000 East Timorese were killed, either in combat with the Japanese, or simply slaughtered by them. His grandfather was killed by the Japanese during this time.

The recent role of this sword is not something Mr. Lopez feels comfortable discussing. That this sword participated in recent events to assure independence from Indonesia is clear on his face, but his reluctance to offer specificity is understood. Although a gentle man, of great stature and a noble quietude, his face and eyes clearly reveals the horrors of war. In the hours we spent with this gentleman, a warrior himself, it became clear he wanted to once and for all retire this great weapon?seemingly in pursuit of peace from the demons that haunt every warrior.

The blade, as previously mentioned, is clearly European. The style of the sheath, handle, horse hair plume, etc, is classic Maluku. While East Timor is at the eastern edges of the Nusa Tenggara region of Indonesia, thus on the edge of western areas of the Maluku, it is clear that Maluku cultural influences are evident. Both the sword and sheath are in excellent original condition. There are copper and twine bands that are wrapped in succession around the sheath. The sheath is stained in a green color, fashioned from buffalo horn. The handle is also of solid buffalo horn, and inset with strings or horse hair which fashions the graceful and noble plume. The small brush attached was explained by Mr. Lopez as made from pig or boars hair, and was used as a tooth brush. The overall length is 74.7 cm. The overall length of the sheath is 59 cm. The horse hair plume is 49 cm in length and the blade width at the hilt, or handle, is 2.7 cm. The hilt, or handle length is 17 cm. The blade, from hilt to end is 45.5 cm.