Kalis: Origin of Minadanaon Kris

A. G. Maisey · 30th June 2008, 01:51 AM

David and Ms Baganing, I am not going to buy into this most scholarly of debates, however, I will make just one comment.

The photo that Ms Baganing has posted of a waved blade is most certainly not a keris by any of the definitions used by people---including anthropologists--- who are expert in this field.

However, it could well be referred to as a "kris" by some people in the community which Ms Baganing has surveyed.

Whether or not all people in this community would name it as a keris has not been established.

Whether or not such an implement has always been known in the surveyed community as a "kris" has not been established.

But Ms Barganing's informants could well refer to it as a kris.

My housekeeper in Solo, when shown a photo of a Bowie knife and told that it was an American style of knife for personal protection dubbed it a "keris amerika".

Different people in different places and at different times, can see things differently.

Let Ms Baganing's informants call this thing a kris. Let Ms Bagaing believe that it is one. I'm sure that like myself, as her research increases in volume she will come to be less and less certain that what she is currently so certain of, is really so.

30th June 2008, 01:51 AM	#19
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,048	David and Ms Baganing, I am not going to buy into this most scholarly of debates, however, I will make just one comment. The photo that Ms Baganing has posted of a waved blade is most certainly not a keris by any of the definitions used by people---including anthropologists--- who are expert in this field. However, it could well be referred to as a "kris" by some people in the community which Ms Baganing has surveyed. Whether or not all people in this community would name it as a keris has not been established. Whether or not such an implement has always been known in the surveyed community as a "kris" has not been established. But Ms Barganing's informants could well refer to it as a kris. My housekeeper in Solo, when shown a photo of a Bowie knife and told that it was an American style of knife for personal protection dubbed it a "keris amerika". Different people in different places and at different times, can see things differently. Let Ms Baganing's informants call this thing a kris. Let Ms Bagaing believe that it is one. I'm sure that like myself, as her research increases in volume she will come to be less and less certain that what she is currently so certain of, is really so.