Two Very Interesting and Unusual Swords From Sumatra

A. G. Maisey · 19th May 2011, 12:26 AM

Charles, the "death shroud" thing is the product of misunderstanding.

This has been discussed at length in (probably) the Warung Kopi. It might have been raised in the old Forum too.

Very briefly the correct Javanese name of this "death shroud" pamor is "buntel mayat".

Buntel mayat means " a wrapping that slopes upwards". This is a perfect description of this pamor.

In Bali and Lombok where this pamor is most frequently found it named "tambangan Badung".

Badung is an administrative division of Bali, tambang is rope.

Popular misunderstanding has turned the name "buntel mayat" into "buntel mayit".

"mayit" means corpse, thus we have "corpse wrapping".

Buntel mayat pamor is a twisted pamor that has no visible core.

As far as I can judge from the photos, the pamor on your sword does have a core.

In my opinion the applicable Javanese name for this pamor is pandan iris :- sliced pandan.

Although this sword is from South Sumatera, and the pamor could well have a different name there, I feel that it may be legitimate to use the Javanese name, as there is a very long political association between South Sumatera and the Javanese courts.

19th May 2011, 12:26 AM	#8
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,994	Charles, the "death shroud" thing is the product of misunderstanding. This has been discussed at length in (probably) the Warung Kopi. It might have been raised in the old Forum too. Very briefly the correct Javanese name of this "death shroud" pamor is "buntel mayat". Buntel mayat means " a wrapping that slopes upwards". This is a perfect description of this pamor. In Bali and Lombok where this pamor is most frequently found it named "tambangan Badung". Badung is an administrative division of Bali, tambang is rope. Popular misunderstanding has turned the name "buntel mayat" into "buntel mayit". "mayit" means corpse, thus we have "corpse wrapping". Buntel mayat pamor is a twisted pamor that has no visible core. As far as I can judge from the photos, the pamor on your sword does have a core. In my opinion the applicable Javanese name for this pamor is pandan iris :- sliced pandan. Although this sword is from South Sumatera, and the pamor could well have a different name there, I feel that it may be legitimate to use the Javanese name, as there is a very long political association between South Sumatera and the Javanese courts.