TAILSMANIC MAGIC A TAILSMAN TO PROTECT GIVE POWER AND HELP SUCCED IN ANY ENDEVOR. IT CAN TAKE THE FORM OF SYMBOLS, WRITING, A OBJECT OR A CONCOCTION OF SECERET MAGIC INGREDIENTS. THEY HAVE BEEN PRESENT IN MOST IF NOT ALL PRIMATIVE SOCIETYS USUALLY ADMINISTERED BY THE WITCHDOCTOR, SHAMAN,MEDICINE MAN, ECT. FOR A MODEST FEE.
THESE PEOPLE WERE IMPORTANT IN PRIMATIVE SOCIETY A WITCHDOCTOR WITH A GOOD RECORD OF SUCESS AGAINST THE EMEMY BY THE WARRIORS HE MADE TAILSMAN FOR ALSO PROVIDED VERY GOOD PROPAGANDA. A PROPERLY MOTIVATED GROUP WITH A KNOWN FIRST CLASS MEDICINE MAN HAD A ADVANTAGE AGAINST THE GROUP THAT HAD SECOND CLASS PROTECTION.
A VERY NICE MANDAU WITH SEVERAL TYPES OF TAILSMAN LIKE HUMAN BONE I ASSUME THE HANDLE IS MADE OF THE UPPER END OF THE FEMUR WHERE IT FITS INTO THE PELVIS. THE TOGGLE IS A NICELY PATINATED HORNBILL BILL, THAT ALSO HAS TAILSMANIC PROPERTYS AND SHOULD HELP THE WAR PARTY TO TRAVEL UNSEEN STRAIGHT TO THEIR VICTIMS AND TO RETURN HOME SAFELY THE SAME WAY. JUST AS THE HORNBILL FLYS QUIETLY AND UNSEEN ABOVE THE JUNGLE IN A STRAIGHT LINE. THE INSCRIPTIONS AND SYMBOLS ON THE BLADE AND THE CARVED HANDLE WOULD ALSO HAVE SOME SORT OF SYMBOLISM AND POWER ASSOCIATED WITH THEM. I SUSPECT THE WICKER WORK IN THE FANCY KNOTS ALSO HAVE SOME PURPOSE AND MEANING OTHER THAN LOOKING PRETTY. WHAT KIND OF ANIMAL DID THE SKIN WITH HAIR ON IT COME FROM? AND IS THE HAIR AT THE TIP OF THE SCABBARD HUMAN?
DAYAK WEAPONS ARE FULL OF MAGIC AS WELL AS ART AND DESPITE THEIR BEAUTY (OR CREEPYNESS
) ARE QUITE FUNCTIONAL.