Siwaih/ Sewar question

[RhysMichael]

Originally Posted by kai

Hello John,

Well, I'd suggest that Marsden's account got heavily tinted by the colonial perspective of those times: Get your soldiers killed outside the battlefield (surprise, surprise for any occupying army!) and it's regarded as an assassination; have your soldiers killing some non-collaborating locals and it becomes a heroic deed...

Kai

Thats a good point and its always a problem with these writings as the seldom try to look at the point of view of the people they are writing about. There are a huge number of photos from the early 20th century with people wearing Siwaih and they are not hidden as you would expect for an assasins weapon though surely as noted above some were small enough to be concealed at need.

However, I still find myself wondering about Leigh's assertion that sewar were reserved for nobility.

I can't find anything saying there were sumptuary laws on this. But of course that does not mean they don't exist. Finding references on this sort of thing in central Virginia can be frustrating. I wonder if I can write to Barbara Liegh though her publisher to ask about this ?

Thanks for the input

[kai]

Hello John,

There are a huge number of photos from the early 20th century with people wearing Siwaih and they are not hidden as you would expect for an assasins weapon though surely as noted above some were small enough to be concealed at need.

There's a bunch of Sumatran blades which seem to have been mainly used as backup weapons (by both men and women), especially the smaller examples. Most of these would be always worn hidden to gain a tactical advantage if need be. AFAIK, that's part and parcel of probably just about any traditional fighting approach in the Malay world (and beyond). The aim of these blades is to aid survival - colonial sources referring to their main use as assassinations are pretty insulting, especially considering that they come from a foreign oppressor...

I can't find anything saying there were sumptuary laws on this. But of course that does not mean they don't exist. Finding references on this sort of thing in central Virginia can be frustrating. I wonder if I can write to Barbara Liegh though her publisher to ask about this ?

First, get the name straight.
Better email her directly - I'm going to PM you contact adresses.

Regards,
Kai

[RhysMichael]

Originally Posted by kai

Hello John,

First, get the name straight.
Better email her directly - I'm going to PM you contact adresses.

Regards,
Kai

My mistake, I mispelled her last name. Thanks for the information