Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post - Images of the Orient-Weapons included-XVI century

fernando · 14th April 2008, 11:03 PM

Thanks Barry.
In watercolour VXXI, depicting the Dachens from the island of Sumatra, the author's legend mentions the use of blowguns with small poisonous arrows.
So (at least) in his perspective the arrows were intentionally small. Other period authors included in the same book confirm the "herbed" arrows, but don't refer their dimensions.
In watercolour XIV, while the author's legend only refers they are Turkmen from Persia ( Ormuz ), under the kingdom of Xeque Ismael, other period authors mention the bravery of the women, who were better riders than many men and that, these Moors from Ormuz were accompanied by pages who, by their state of honour, carried barrels of water or algarafas ( Arabic to old Portuguese for bottle ) adorned with silver. It all indicates that the strange things painted by the author are water containers.
Fernando

14th April 2008, 11:03 PM	#27
fernando Lead Moderator European Armoury Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,642	Thanks Barry. In watercolour VXXI, depicting the Dachens from the island of Sumatra, the author's legend mentions the use of blowguns with small poisonous arrows. So (at least) in his perspective the arrows were intentionally small. Other period authors included in the same book confirm the "herbed" arrows, but don't refer their dimensions. In watercolour XIV, while the author's legend only refers they are Turkmen from Persia ( Ormuz ), under the kingdom of Xeque Ismael, other period authors mention the bravery of the women, who were better riders than many men and that, these Moors from Ormuz were accompanied by pages who, by their state of honour, carried barrels of water or algarafas ( Arabic to old Portuguese for bottle ) adorned with silver. It all indicates that the strange things painted by the author are water containers. Fernando