Ban on Keris

[rahman]

Raja Muda

My history is very rusty, but I believe a similar ban was imposed following the Pangkor Treaty (bad on the dates, sorry). I think the first British Resident was murdered, and this had something to do with it. Do a google search on pangkor... I think there's a lot of stuff online. I checked it a few weeks ago.

Keris lovers might also be interested that John Crawford, the first Resident in Singapore, was also stabbed by a keris. However, because his attacker stabbed from a crouching/hiding position, he was badly wounded in rthe chest but survived.

This lends proof that the keris was indeed seen and used as a weapon in the Malay world.

I'm now ploughing thru the arcane language of Hikayat Hang Tuah and Sejarah Melayu. Wonderful references in there about the use of Keris Panjang and Keris Pandak (keris pendek?). I can tell you that the keris panjang was a slashing weapon, and is not the same as the keris penyalang (executioner's sword).