EARLY SKETCH OF LUTAO SPEARDANCE

zamboanga · 5th April 2005, 03:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Battara

Zamboanga, what is a sangkil-sulayang spear?

A sangkil is the rarer spear compared to the budiak. It comes in two versions, the ordinary sangkil which has one side barbed (thanks for the term, tom) and the sangkil-sulayang which comes with both sides barbed.

To the tausugs and samals the sangkil can be both a fishing tool (both tribes lived off the sea) and a weapon. To the yakans, who were land-based, the sangkil is said to be the favored weapon for ambush because of the barbs.

I posted this picture of samal sangkils (the two at the bottom) in another thread:

zamboanga · 5th April 2005, 04:11 AM

part of the digitized narratives:

fearn · 5th April 2005, 06:17 PM

Hi Tom,

Nias shields are leaf shaped (literally), with a long stem on the bottom and a wooden boss for punching out their opponents. From the pictures, they reach roughly from shoulder to ground and are several feet across.

Hi Zamboanga,

From your picture, it looks like the Sangkil-sulayang is a harpoon, meaning that the head is detachable from the shaft and attached to a line that is attached to the shaft. Is this correct?

Fearn

Bill · 5th April 2005, 09:58 PM

this will likely open a can of worms, not sure article about "Moro" is quite right. Not comfortable with the lable "Moro", but I guess Cato made it a term acceptable in referance to certain swords. from as much as i have found, most of the PI was controled by Brunei especially the Tausug untill 1578(?) when the Spanish attacked Brunei. After that is when it seems the Tausug alligned with the Sultans of Ternate & Makassar against the Spanish.

zamboanga · 13th April 2005, 10:41 AM

fearn,

you are right about the sangkil head (at least the ones being used for fishing) being detachable.

bill,

I think the writer of the article, given the circumstances at that time, was not able to verify or double check the information passed on to him.

but, here's a comprehensive link on the history of the Sulu Sultanate: http://www.seasite.niu.edu/Tagalog/M..._the_royal.htm

lutao, by the way is part of the local dialect which means "to float" - in reference to the sea-going ways of the tausugs, samals, badjaos, etc.

Bill · 13th April 2005, 04:20 PM

Zamboanga, thanks for the link, it also looks to have some great referances, if I ever read what I already have. No offence to the folks here with Philippine heritage, but I think Brunei has to have had great influence on what we refer to as Moro swords. Pigafetta seemed to be impressed at the amount or arms there; where usually in the PI, knives & iron were in demand. Also the first Portuguese in Sulawesi find no interest in thier swords or iron, but the locals are trying to sell them thiers.

Battara · 13th April 2005, 05:12 PM

No offense taken for me, Bill. I agree, especially in the earlier days. When it comes to the later period, I may be inclined towards Federico's position of Sulu influence. Certainly, intermingling of influences from the Sultanates of Brunei, Maguindanao, and Sulu (even possibly Ternate) are not surprising due to proximity of cultures and common investment into Islam.

5th April 2005, 04:11 AM	#2
zamboanga Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: zamboanga city, philippines Posts: 132	part of the digitized narratives: Attached Images

5th April 2005, 06:17 PM	#3
fearn Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,247	Hi Tom, Nias shields are leaf shaped (literally), with a long stem on the bottom and a wooden boss for punching out their opponents. From the pictures, they reach roughly from shoulder to ground and are several feet across. Hi Zamboanga, From your picture, it looks like the Sangkil-sulayang is a harpoon, meaning that the head is detachable from the shaft and attached to a line that is attached to the shaft. Is this correct? Fearn

5th April 2005, 09:58 PM	#4
Bill Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Chicago area Posts: 327	this will likely open a can of worms, not sure article about "Moro" is quite right. Not comfortable with the lable "Moro", but I guess Cato made it a term acceptable in referance to certain swords. from as much as i have found, most of the PI was controled by Brunei especially the Tausug untill 1578(?) when the Spanish attacked Brunei. After that is when it seems the Tausug alligned with the Sultans of Ternate & Makassar against the Spanish.

13th April 2005, 10:41 AM	#5
zamboanga Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: zamboanga city, philippines Posts: 132	fearn, you are right about the sangkil head (at least the ones being used for fishing) being detachable. bill, I think the writer of the article, given the circumstances at that time, was not able to verify or double check the information passed on to him. but, here's a comprehensive link on the history of the Sulu Sultanate: http://www.seasite.niu.edu/Tagalog/M..._the_royal.htm lutao, by the way is part of the local dialect which means "to float" - in reference to the sea-going ways of the tausugs, samals, badjaos, etc.

13th April 2005, 04:20 PM	#6
Bill Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Chicago area Posts: 327	Zamboanga, thanks for the link, it also looks to have some great referances, if I ever read what I already have. No offence to the folks here with Philippine heritage, but I think Brunei has to have had great influence on what we refer to as Moro swords. Pigafetta seemed to be impressed at the amount or arms there; where usually in the PI, knives & iron were in demand. Also the first Portuguese in Sulawesi find no interest in thier swords or iron, but the locals are trying to sell them thiers.

13th April 2005, 05:12 PM	#7
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,280	No offense taken for me, Bill. I agree, especially in the earlier days. When it comes to the later period, I may be inclined towards Federico's position of Sulu influence. Certainly, intermingling of influences from the Sultanates of Brunei, Maguindanao, and Sulu (even possibly Ternate) are not surprising due to proximity of cultures and common investment into Islam.