My Flyssa Daggers

[DaveA]

Here is a large (24 inches) curved flyssa with a hilt similar to the one posted by Dom. I had been thinking of this as a nimcha… It, along with the small jimbaya, are shown being worn by a "desert wallah" c. late 19th century.

Separately I will posted some other flyssas.

[DaveA]

Here are three other flyssas in my collection for comparison.

[kronckew]

mine:

the curved one doesn't have a nimcha grip, it more like a std. flyssa.

[David R]

Hiya guys, this conversation and particulary Doms contribution has piqued my interest, so I have a question. I saw these 2 and dismissed them as 20thC tourist pieces, but now I wonder? They are not in an auction so I think they are ok to post.

[kronckew]

Originally Posted by David R

Hiya guys, this conversation and particulary Doms contribution has piqued my interest, so I have a question. I saw these 2 and dismissed them as 20thC tourist pieces, but now I wonder? They are not in an auction so I think they are ok to post.

how thick are the blades? that seems to be the main difference. the tourist 'wedding nimcha' ones, which apparently started late 19th c. tend to have thin flat blades (2mm-ish) and are more sharply curved than earlier ones with 4mm distal tapered blades (like mine above) and the engraving/inlays/scabbard carvings are not in traditional kabyle patterns. (see earlier post by emmanuel)

[Emanuel]

Originally Posted by David R

Hiya guys, this conversation and particulary Doms contribution has piqued my interest, so I have a question. I saw these 2 and dismissed them as 20thC tourist pieces, but now I wonder? They are not in an auction so I think they are ok to post.

Hi David,

I owned an identical "wedding nimcha" a few years ago. Like Kroncke says, the blades are uniformly flat, cut from ~2mm sheet, not forged, and the scabbard wire inlay is poor compared to the old carving. I had therefore also assumed they were early 20th century pieces. I'm happy to accept evidence that they're earlier. How they came about and who made them I don't know. Since they are all of a near-identical type I assume a common provenance.

Emanuel

[Dom]

Originally Posted by DaveA

along with the small jimbaya, are shown being worn by a "desert wallah" c. late 19th century.

Hi Dave
I look for "Desert wallah", because I never listen about a tribe or a Bedu group with "wallah" as name
but in Arabic, it's the contraction of "wallah al-azim" (swearing using God name)
in this case "Desert wallah" could (?) mean "I swear, Desert"

second thing who interrogated me ... your picture for the "Desert wallah"
- the man is dressed as a Palestinian, the "egal" and the "abaya" are symptomatic
- but the two edged weapons, aren't from that country, but absolutely from Magreb !!!

I haven't an rational explanation,
excepted if we considered this picture as a "artistic view" not as ethnographic document
anyway ... strange, I hope that some Arabic Bro. will come to help us

regards

à +

Dom

[A.alnakkas]

Hey guys,

The desert wallah thing seems to be the work of some orientalist. Indeed it seems that the person is wearing a Palastinian traditional uniform and a shibriya (small knife at the bottom)

[David R]

The picture looks like an early 20thC studio photo, possibly an actor in "role" or a tourist souvenier. These often catch people out as sometimes they are quite convincing. Two of those below are of Mr. R. Burton explorer and orientalist, and Mr Grundy an early tourist, ie in 1855. The third is explained by its caption.
In the UK "wallah" or "waller" is a vernacular term for just about any male person regardless of race. Like much of our slang it is of Army origin, deriving from local languages in the Eastern part of the Empire. Other examples, "bundook" for rifle,"chitty" for a document, and "burkoo" derived from bhulgar for a meal of prepared grain....usualy porridge oats.
Sorry to digress, but I think the existance of early tourist photo's are increasingly relevant to us collectors, especialy when they become references.

[chregu]

Hi
It is absolutely interesting! thanks for all the good posts. I'm a bit tired at the moment that I do not have as much free time to get here to operate in the forum. But it will surely come again quieter times! smile.
beautiful Sunday evening

[DaveA]

Hi Dom,

"Desert Wallah" is a pejorative name for British high society men who would have an "adventurous" visit to British empire territorities in N. Africa. The term was used by local British administrators and more experienced travelers. In order to bolster their tales of daring-do, Desert Wallahs often brought back weapons, garb, and sometimes made photos such as this one in my collection. That is one reason well preserved edged weapons from the region can sometimes be found in family estate auctions. It also accounts for the odd ethnographic mixture of clothing and weapons in the picture!

David

Originally Posted by Dom

Hi Dave
I look for "Desert wallah", because I never listen about a tribe or a Bedu group with "wallah" as name
but in Arabic, it's the contraction of "wallah al-azim" (swearing using God name)
in this case "Desert wallah" could (?) mean "I swear, Desert"

second thing who interrogated me ... your picture for the "Desert wallah"
- the man is dressed as a Palestinian, the "egal" and the "abaya" are symptomatic
- but the two edged weapons, aren't from that country, but absolutely from Magreb !!!

I haven't an rational explanation,
excepted if we considered this picture as a "artistic view" not as ethnographic document
anyway ... strange, I hope that some Arabic Bro. will come to help us

regards

à +

Dom