"Buginees 'Executioners' Keris" for comment

A. G. Maisey · 18th October 2012, 11:19 PM

Further to execution by keris.

In the Ying-yai Sheng-lan, Ma Huan gives a description of the summary execution of thieves in 15th century Jawa. They were stabbed with the keris between the floating ribs and in the small of the back.

The long keris down past the collar-bone is very colourful, and undoubtedly did occur, but in Jawa and Bali a good old-fashioned shiv into the chest seems to have been a lot more popular.

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18th October 2012, 11:19 PM	#10
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,890	Further to execution by keris. In the Ying-yai Sheng-lan, Ma Huan gives a description of the summary execution of thieves in 15th century Jawa. They were stabbed with the keris between the floating ribs and in the small of the back. The long keris down past the collar-bone is very colourful, and undoubtedly did occur, but in Jawa and Bali a good old-fashioned shiv into the chest seems to have been a lot more popular.