SWORD FOR DISCUSSION

[Iain]

Originally Posted by Ibrahiim al Balooshi

Salaams Iain, Brilliant maps ! I must say I didnt realise that the great slaver Tibbu Tip controlled such an enormous central area and apparently unlinked to any particular coast ~ In terms of the sword at #1 I think it wise to be cautious since nothing much can be attributed to its last known location since it could easily have travelled alone and unrelated to the facts on the ground.

(Actually am I right in thinking that we dont have a clue where this one turned up?) Somewhere between lake Victoria and the Indian Ocean(OR THE ATLANTIC?) may well not be accurate enough !!

Hi Ibrahiim,

Its a sword in Mandinka mounts and therefore there is very little reason if any to think it was collected somewhere else. No matter what the issue of kattaras, the sword that is the subject of this thread is clear in the ethnic group that mounted the blade, including hilt, leatherwork, pommel etc. Suggesting it turned up between lake Victoria and the East African coast is rather extreme extrapolation without a lot of cause.

Cheers,

Iain

[A.alnakkas]

The word Ktr كتر exists in the Arab language and as far as I know it refers to something high or long... sounds fitting.

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Originally Posted by A.alnakkas

The word Ktr كتر exists in the Arab language and as far as I know it refers to something high or long... sounds fitting.

Salaams ~ I researched and did a cross section study on the word (using 25 university students as my sample base of discussion/ search etc... They came up with the word كتر ktr... meaning "knife like" however you may have another angle... My view is that kattara may have come from the English "cutter" not from the arabic... or translated in from an Indian word "Kattar." I think it is an interesting word switch but seems to evade capture precisely ... and like a lot of other derived words is lost in time ... however, perhaps one day a researcher will turn up the reason in some dusty museum document ~
Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Originally Posted by Iain

Hi Ibrahiim,

Its a sword in Mandinka mounts and therefore there is very little reason if any to think it was collected somewhere else. No matter what the issue of kattaras, the sword that is the subject of this thread is clear in the ethnic group that mounted the blade, including hilt, leatherwork, pommel etc. Suggesting it turned up between lake Victoria and the East African coast is rather extreme extrapolation without a lot of cause.

Cheers,

Iain

Salaams Iain ~ Quite agree... Mendinka.
Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.