Period Photos of People with Ethnographic Arms

[CharlesS]

I thought these were lost in my move from one house to another, but I found them in a major clean-up project, and was so happy to see them again!

In no particular order, they mostly speak for themselves.

[CharlesS]

A few more.....

[Maurice]

Not a photo, but a very interesting and old drawing of an execution in North Sumatra somewhere I believe...

[Maurice]

One of my favorite photo's.

A Boekat tribes headman with awesome chesttattoo....

[estcrh]

One of my favorite images titled "1873: The attendants of the Sumptha Raja, Agra Durbar". A rare photo of Indian armor, weapons and the men who used them. Char-aina (chest armor) with what looks like some sort of shoulder coverings, possibly armored, which I have not seen any were else, kulah khud (helmet), bazu band (arm guards) and various swords, altogether a bunch of guys you would not want to mess with.

A durbar was a great ceremonial gathering during the period of the British Raj. Here is a quote about the Agra Durbar from a book written in 1901, "The Agra Durbar was perhaps the most splendid and extraordinary to European eyes of the whole series, for there were seen the most powerful princes of native India in all their semi-barbaric magnificence."

[Iain]

Where: Ngaoundéré, Adamawa region, North Cameroon
When: unknown, early 20th century?
Who: Fulani cavalry and foot soldiers
Weapons visible: Spears, shields, takouba, I think some muskets as well
Source if known: French postcard

This is a particularly interesting photo to me as seeing images with shields is fairly rare. I think I spot a Sudanese style round shield down at the far end of the foot soldier line.

[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.

[Maurice]

Here is another interesting one from around 1870...

These are according my archives men of the Boeton island (South east Celebes), made in Java..... but I can't find the source where I got it unfortunately.

[Sajen]

Thank's for posting this image. This shield is very similar to one shield from my collection which I found on Halmahera but which isn't similar to all Halmahera shields I know.

Regards,

Detlef

[Maurice]

Hi Detlef,

That's an interesting shield!
"Taste" like Celebes indeed....

It's a bit between the salawaku's and Celebes shields like the one on the image.
There were also salawaku's collected in Celebes which are now in museumcollections....
So why don't find a "cross over" shield in Halmahera? ;-)

Kind Regards,
Maurice

[Maurice]

.

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by Maurice

Hi Detlef,

That's an interesting shield!
"Taste" like Celebes indeed....

It's a bit between the salawaku's and Celebes shields like the one on the image.
There were also salawaku's collected in Celebes which are now in museumcollections....
So why don't find a "cross over" shield in Halmahera? ;-)

Kind Regards,
Maurice

Hi Maurice,

yes, indeed. Have handled a few Celebes shields, they are different. My guess is that I have maybe a Ternate shield but never have seen one until now. This shield in question seems to very old which was also stated by the previous owner.

Best regards,

Detlef

[dralin23]

1

[Tim Simmons]

1913

[Iain]

Where: South Tunisia
When: early 1900s?
Who: Berber
Weapons visible: Takouba
Source if known: Old French card

Interesting image, this does not appear to be a Tuareg and I was unaware of takouba use among other Berber groups further to the North?

[Maurice]

Image on a very old businesscard (1875).
Minahassa dancers with krisses, Gorontalo.
Collection: Volkenkundig museum Leiden.

[manokent]

This is a great idea for a thread! Here are a couple of pics from an old book that I bought recently. The book called " The Secret Museum of Mankind" is undated although I think it would date from between the wars.

Pic 1 Bisharin tribesman - Near Assuan (sic)


Pic2 Rif or Er Rif Warrior - North Morocco.

If anyone can date this publication I would be glad to hear.

[Lee]

Originally Posted by manokent

If anyone can date this publication I would be glad to hear.

I also have a copy of the book and someone has created a website about the book.

[elv]

I have a particular interest in Samoa for a number of reasons.
1. Colonial conflict between the US, British and Germans in the Pacific brewed in Samoa.
2. New Zealand - (where I live) administered Samoa in the early 20th century.
3. I have family ties to Samoa.

[elv]

.

[manokent]

Originally Posted by manokent

If anyone can date this publication I would be glad to hear.

Thanks Lee, Interesting viewpoint from the guy who compiled the website that I initially didn't agree with at all. However when you read the published advertisement from the 30's I can see his point. I still think that the book is a useful resource of period photos that would have been taken in the early 1900's.

Thanks again,


Mark.

[estcrh]

Two more interesting photos showing armor being worn, the first is titled "Turkmen soldiers", three warriors dressed in mail carrying shields and weapons. the next photo had a title of "hill men'', it shows Indian warriors, two are wearing mail, and look at the size of the spears.

[Iain]

Two very interesting images from around 1911 to 1915 from the Bamum kingdom in Cameroon.

One photo shows the king and the other two of his sons. I find these images particularly fascinating because they clearly show takouba in a region I did not know they were used.

[CharlesS]

I am wondering why they are holding them(takoubas) hilt to the ground???...it does look like they have both taken off their belts and slung them across the top of the takouba. Looks like a curved dagger on the ground also attached to a belt.

Interesting...

Great pic....thanks for the addition!