Weapons
There are sixteen objects in the RAMM Burmese weapon collection and these range
from swords and scabbards to axes and arrows. For this report an example of each
type of weapon has been examined.
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‘Dao’ and Sheath, Accession numbers – 19 & 19a1907 / and 22 & 22a.1907
‘dha-lwe’, Accession number – 106.2000.21
Quiver and Arrows, Accession number – 44.1907’
Axe Dao and Sheath 19 & 1907
This axe type dao is connected to a wooden handle and decorated with woven cane.
The dao is encased in a wooden sheath with a red cord for attachment. The axe head is
long and thin. The axe type dao is now quite rare. The object is part of the Porter
Collection and dates to late 19th Century. Exact provenance is unknown however
Jamie Saul has examined an image and noted that ‘this particular type of design is
used only in the southern areas from the Pochury country in Nagaland across to the
Chindwin. In the north the sheaths are longer and thinner due to the narrow daos
being used’ (Pers. Comm. 2006). A modern version of this type of dao and sheath has
been attached to the file.
Axe Dao and Sheath 22 & 22a 1907
This axe type dao is connected to a wooden handle and decorated with woven cane.
The top of the axe is shaped in a ‘V’. The sheath is of wide rectangular shape with
serrated edges. The wooden box cases are typical of the southern areas from the
Pochury country in Nagaland across to the Chindwin. The serrated edges are a feature
still utilised by the Jedger (Para) Naga (Jamie Saul Pers Comm. 2006). The wood has
been ornately carved with geometric patterns. This dao and sheath are part of the
Porter collection and date to the late 19th Century.
‘dha-lwe’ 106.2000.21
This weapon is a sword with a wooden scabbard. The wooden scabbard used to
protect the blade has been bound with plaited cane. There is also a thick red cord tied
around the scabbard for attachment. The object was re-accessioned and unfortunately
the original records were unobtainable. Therefore donor and provenance are
unknown. The ‘dha-lwe’ is one of the common forms of weapon. The Shan are
renowned for excelling in making dha-lwe’ (Fraser-Lu 1994:148).
Quiver and Arrows 44.1907
This quiver and set of arrows are from the Porter collection and date to late 19th
Century. Provenance is as yet unknown. The quiver is made out of a bamboo
container and a conical case constructed of plaited cane. The selection of arrows are
extremely useful in that there is the wood from which the arrows are made, the arrows
which have been started and two completed arrows. Therefore in the quiver it is
possible to see the process of arrow making from start to finish.