Moro Spearhead, but from what Battle?

Ian · 17th May 2024, 08:30 PM

Hi drac.

I think the tag refers to one of the two battles between Americans and Muslims at Bud Dajo. Spelling mistakes or variations are common on these old tags.

Ian.

kai · 17th May 2024, 08:45 PM

If one wants to speculate, the Lake Danao area seems to be a phonetically better match.

Regards,
Kai

Rick · 18th May 2024, 12:01 AM

The fastenings of the spear head have a 'last ditch' look to them.
I'd guess that the shaft was cut to facilitate either easier transport from the Philippines or for hand-to-hand combat.
I have seen Budiak with an iron loop at the butt end and I believe this was to facilitate retrieval of the spear by an attached cord.

drac2k · 18th May 2024, 02:46 AM

Thanks to all for your excellent comments.Yes, I believe that the spear was cut down for easier transport home.
20 years ago I found a very similar spear, with comparable wire bindings which I will post this weekend. My theory is that these were siege spears for either attacking a fortified location or defending it;one would not want to lose a lance head thrusting it into something.Maybe the thick wire wrapping would ward off a blow from a sword that might sever the blade from the shaft.
I have two other Moro spears,with similar heads, and heavy 8' bamboo shafts ,not suitable for throwing : more like a pike.They do not have the wire binding.

Lee · 18th May 2024, 12:40 PM

Always nice seeing another of these budiak spears! Here is an old thread with a few more examples where the head is wired to the shaft, though less robustly than the current example.

drac2k · 18th May 2024, 02:44 PM

Thanks , Lee for providing those examples;it is nice to know that it isn't just a random "one of."Do these "baled examples come from a particular area and do you have a theory as to why the exta wire is added?
The spearheads are not crude,but rather sophisticated,so is the wire an afterthought based on necessity or maybe just added during times of war?

David · 18th May 2024, 03:23 PM

Bud Dajo (Tausug: Būd Dahu; Spanish: Monte Dajó)
In the photos it looks like the tag might have been Daho, not Dano and that the stem of the "h" wore away. If we consider the Tausug spelling and that the name is pronounced DA-ho, it would not surprise me that someone hearing the name would spell it "Daho". Remember that in Spanish, a "j" is pronounced as an "h".
If this is correct, there were two acknowledged Battles of Bud Dajo, the first in March, 1906 and the second December, 1911.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Battle_of_Bud_Dajo

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Battle_of_Bud_Dajo

There may have been fighting around Lake Danao, but i am not familiar with any battles that name the place specifically, so that seems less likely.

18th May 2024, 12:01 AM	#3
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,339	Just Speculating The fastenings of the spear head have a 'last ditch' look to them. I'd guess that the shaft was cut to facilitate either easier transport from the Philippines or for hand-to-hand combat. I have seen Budiak with an iron loop at the butt end and I believe this was to facilitate retrieval of the spear by an attached cord.

17th May 2024, 08:30 PM	#1
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,396	Hi drac. I think the tag refers to one of the two battles between Americans and Muslims at Bud Dajo. Spelling mistakes or variations are common on these old tags. Ian.

17th May 2024, 08:45 PM	#2
kai Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 3,255	If one wants to speculate, the Lake Danao area seems to be a phonetically better match. Regards, Kai

18th May 2024, 02:46 AM	#4
drac2k Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 1,258	Thanks to all for your excellent comments.Yes, I believe that the spear was cut down for easier transport home. 20 years ago I found a very similar spear, with comparable wire bindings which I will post this weekend. My theory is that these were siege spears for either attacking a fortified location or defending it;one would not want to lose a lance head thrusting it into something.Maybe the thick wire wrapping would ward off a blow from a sword that might sever the blade from the shaft. I have two other Moro spears,with similar heads, and heavy 8' bamboo shafts ,not suitable for throwing : more like a pike.They do not have the wire binding.

18th May 2024, 12:40 PM	#5
Lee EAAF Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Upstate New York, USA Posts: 937	Always nice seeing another of these budiak spears! Here is an old thread with a few more examples where the head is wired to the shaft, though less robustly than the current example.

18th May 2024, 02:44 PM	#6
drac2k Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 1,258	Thanks , Lee for providing those examples;it is nice to know that it isn't just a random "one of."Do these "baled examples come from a particular area and do you have a theory as to why the exta wire is added? The spearheads are not crude,but rather sophisticated,so is the wire an afterthought based on necessity or maybe just added during times of war?

18th May 2024, 03:23 PM	#7
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,218	Bud Dajo (Tausug: Būd Dahu; Spanish: Monte Dajó) In the photos it looks like the tag might have been Daho, not Dano and that the stem of the "h" wore away. If we consider the Tausug spelling and that the name is pronounced DA-ho, it would not surprise me that someone hearing the name would spell it "Daho". Remember that in Spanish, a "j" is pronounced as an "h". If this is correct, there were two acknowledged Battles of Bud Dajo, the first in March, 1906 and the second December, 1911. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Battle_of_Bud_Dajo https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Battle_of_Bud_Dajo There may have been fighting around Lake Danao, but i am not familiar with any battles that name the place specifically, so that seems less likely.