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Old 29th July 2010, 04:32 AM   #6
migueldiaz
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Location: Manila, Phils.
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Thanks for all the comments!

The pic of the entire Bagobo sword is below. As additional info, below are excerpts from Fay Cooper-Cole's important work on these Mindanao 'tribes' --
"The workers in iron and brass, the weavers of hemp cloth, and the mediums or shamans—known as mabalian—are under the protection of special deities for whom they make ceremonies at certain times of the year.

"In this community no men stand higher in the estimation of their fellows than do the smiths and the casters of copper.

"Of even greater importance are the smiths who are also under the care of a powerful spirit for whom the _Gomek-gomanan_ ceremony is celebrated each year, just prior to the planting time. Their forges are hidden away in the hemp fields, and I was repeatedly informed that no woman might see the smith at work.

"After an iron knife or spear head has been roughly shaped, the smith splits the edge to a slight depth and inserts a band of steel. The iron is pounded down on the harder metal and the whole is brought to a white heat in the charcoal fire."
Hope to receive more feedback on the query
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