Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post

A. G. Maisey · 27th July 2006, 10:20 AM

On the other hand---------

let`s say we`d really like this sangkuh thing to get its name from an Indian source.

Its a bayonet, bayonets come with firearms, direct Indian influence in Jawa was gone long before firearms with bayonets were on the scene.

However-----------

did the Dutch employ Indian mercenaries?

Yes? No?

If so, when?

What were they armed with?

Did those firearms have triangular bayonets?

If not the Dutch, how about the British?

The British had control of Jawa during the first quarter of the 19th century.

Did the British have Indian troops?

Seems reasonable to expect that they might have had.

If so, what were they armed with?

The British really did a number on the Sultan of Jogja. If you like stories of British superiority as a colonial power, you`ll love the story of the taking of Jogja.

But anyway---there they were, right in the heart of Jawa. If they had Indian troops with them ---well, you`ve seen the movies.

And sangkuh is a Javanese word, not Sundanese.

I do not have time right now to do the necessary digging to answer these questions, but a little time spent answering these questions might give a logical confirmation to an Indian source.

I`m sure there`s some fun there for somebody.

27th July 2006, 10:20 AM	#7
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,987	On the other hand--------- let`s say we`d really like this sangkuh thing to get its name from an Indian source. Its a bayonet, bayonets come with firearms, direct Indian influence in Jawa was gone long before firearms with bayonets were on the scene. However----------- did the Dutch employ Indian mercenaries? Yes? No? If so, when? What were they armed with? Did those firearms have triangular bayonets? If not the Dutch, how about the British? The British had control of Jawa during the first quarter of the 19th century. Did the British have Indian troops? Seems reasonable to expect that they might have had. If so, what were they armed with? The British really did a number on the Sultan of Jogja. If you like stories of British superiority as a colonial power, you`ll love the story of the taking of Jogja. But anyway---there they were, right in the heart of Jawa. If they had Indian troops with them ---well, you`ve seen the movies. And sangkuh is a Javanese word, not Sundanese. I do not have time right now to do the necessary digging to answer these questions, but a little time spent answering these questions might give a logical confirmation to an Indian source. I`m sure there`s some fun there for somebody.