Period Photos of People with Ethnographic Arms

[Iain]

Where: Dar Sila wandering sultanate (Chad)
When: unknown, early 20th century?
Who: Dar Sila Daju
Weapons visible: Kaskara
Source if known: "Dadjo Warrior Dahab, son of sultan Bakhit (Dar Sila)". From L'Afrique Équatoriale Française: le pays, les habitants, la colonisation, les pouvoirs publics. Préf. de M. Merlin.(published 1918)

Very interesting photo from a little known group. Article on wikipedia.


There is a kaskara visible but also some sort of Arab looking saif with a very odd pommel that almost looks Tebu style.

[Iain]

Where: South Sulawesi, Indonesia
When: 1920s
Who: Toraja
Weapons visible: Spear, shield
Source if known: Old dutch photo?

[Maurice]

Originally Posted by Iain

Source if known: Old dutch photo?

Probably, as it's Dutch text.

[Sajen]

Yes, text mean Toraja as headhunter.

[Maurice]

Originally Posted by Sajen

Yes, text mean Toraja as headhunter.

Yep that's a correct translation!

PS I like the shield. Very rare.
Here two pieces which are in the collection of the volkenkundig museum Leiden.

[Sajen]

Rare and nice, would like to have one in my collection!

[Iain]

Thanks guys for the translation and interesting additional material. That's what I always wanted this thread to be - a channel to more discussion from looking at the "real thing" in photographic records.