Blade forms and runaway slaves

Jim McDougall · 24th March 2007, 03:07 AM

I noticed this post and was intrigued by the topic, so thought I would look into this a little further. There seems to have been a great deal of very much overlooked history on the subject of runaway slaves in so many regions of the Americas. Apparantly the tribes of these unfortunate victims of slavery that founded colonies in Surinam, a coastal region of South America above Brazil, were descendants of slaves held by Dutch colonial traders.

The use of paddles in the preparation of food in volume, such as gumbos, mush etc. seems well known among tribal peoples, and these implements are noted in numerous instances as far as the tribes in NW America. It is noted as well that the tribes of Seminole of Florida, which include descendants of runaway slaves, use trunks of the sabal palmetto for fashioning food paddles, as well as staffs and arrows. It is interesting to note the association of the same wood for weapons as for a food implement, considering that here we are wondering if a household cooking item might be used as a weapon. Naturally, we are all aware of the standard 'weapon of opportunity' , and that most implements can be used as a weapon in one way or another.

Burton, in his "Book of the Sword" (1884, p.42) notes that, "...the passage of the paddle into the sword is well known amongst the wilder 'Indians' of the Brazil". He notes further that the Brazilian instrument known as the Macana (in some regions 'tamarana') retains the form of the original paddle, while for offensive purposes the oval head is sharpened all around. In parts of Brazil , he notes that the macana was a rounded club, and that the sharpened version was termed a 'pagaye'.

It would seem that these domestically oriented paddles, having been in many instances altered by sharpening as noted for 'offensive purposes', might have gained a certain ceremonial or traditional stature by association with warfare related events, and that appropriately decorative examples may have become traditionally or patriotically symbolic. Possibly these apparantly unused, unstained examples may have been of that instance.

Clearly these items were 'multipurpose' in nature, and on a less serious note,I can't resist thinking of the old cliche' cartoon image of the enraged wife after her husband waving a rolling pin!

Best regards,
Jim

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24th March 2007, 03:07 AM	#4
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,193	I noticed this post and was intrigued by the topic, so thought I would look into this a little further. There seems to have been a great deal of very much overlooked history on the subject of runaway slaves in so many regions of the Americas. Apparantly the tribes of these unfortunate victims of slavery that founded colonies in Surinam, a coastal region of South America above Brazil, were descendants of slaves held by Dutch colonial traders. The use of paddles in the preparation of food in volume, such as gumbos, mush etc. seems well known among tribal peoples, and these implements are noted in numerous instances as far as the tribes in NW America. It is noted as well that the tribes of Seminole of Florida, which include descendants of runaway slaves, use trunks of the sabal palmetto for fashioning food paddles, as well as staffs and arrows. It is interesting to note the association of the same wood for weapons as for a food implement, considering that here we are wondering if a household cooking item might be used as a weapon. Naturally, we are all aware of the standard 'weapon of opportunity' , and that most implements can be used as a weapon in one way or another. Burton, in his "Book of the Sword" (1884, p.42) notes that, "...the passage of the paddle into the sword is well known amongst the wilder 'Indians' of the Brazil". He notes further that the Brazilian instrument known as the Macana (in some regions 'tamarana') retains the form of the original paddle, while for offensive purposes the oval head is sharpened all around. In parts of Brazil , he notes that the macana was a rounded club, and that the sharpened version was termed a 'pagaye'. It would seem that these domestically oriented paddles, having been in many instances altered by sharpening as noted for 'offensive purposes', might have gained a certain ceremonial or traditional stature by association with warfare related events, and that appropriately decorative examples may have become traditionally or patriotically symbolic. Possibly these apparantly unused, unstained examples may have been of that instance. Clearly these items were 'multipurpose' in nature, and on a less serious note,I can't resist thinking of the old cliche' cartoon image of the enraged wife after her husband waving a rolling pin! Best regards, Jim