Kaskara opinion

regihis · 28th November 2012, 10:56 PM

Since the beginning of the 17th century, Hausa has been written with a version of the Arabic script known as ajami. Most of the early writing in Hausa was Islamic poetry or on Islamic themes. If the verses are Hausa, Ajami or others languages?

Jim McDougall · 30th November 2012, 12:57 AM

Iain, Ive been rereading Briggs, and other notes concerning the strange attribution by him concerning 'Hausa' type hilts and swords, naturally written in the context of his landmark work on Tuareg swords and daggers. It seems he regards these swords which are clearly kaskara, as within the collective 'takouba' group and implies that Hausa and Mandingo used them.

It is interesting that while he mentions the Sudan, and Ahaggar trade with northern central areas there (p.37), he does not note these swords coming from there. The Mandingo attribution is even more curious as they are known for the guardless sabres which correspond in degree to the form of takouba with curved blade called aljuinar (as per Lee Jones research).

I have understood that the Hausa were blacksmiths, but they were also keen merchants, which accounts for thier language being the lingua francia of wide areas of the Sahara. In northern Nigerian regions as I understand, the Hausa and Fulani are regarded very much as the same tribal entity, with undoubtedly certain qualifications however. Since the Fulani were known users of the takouba, it seems odd that the obviously different sword type would be assumed to be Hausa.

The thuluth seems to me most likely to be with Mamluk origins, as they are most known for thier use of this type of Islamic script. Since they were situated in Sennar nominally after thier flight from Egypt and later decimated by incursions by Mohammed Ali, it seems thier influence on this decoration of blades might be likely there. The fact that many German and other blades entered there via Suakin would have provided good numbers of blades which may have been then decorated accordingly.
This was a trade center which certainly may have provided swords which would have entered westward caravans.

As mentioned, this kaskara with brass guard is remarkably similar to the one I have, and this seems to be of a typing that very well might even predate the Mahdist period with these swords of Sennar. Regarding these curious stamps with the name Louis and the Roman numerals, I would suggest that perhaps this sword may have been collected and entered the community in earlier years. In those times there was ever the proclivity of medieval associations with these swords, as described by Oakeshott , and 'industrious' persons tried to pass these off as medieval. These stamps on the guard may have been from a less than well informed 'artisan' trying to allude to these kinds of associations.

Regihis, most interesting entry on this Ajami script and the great example, thank you so much!!!

All the best,
Jim

Iain · 30th November 2012, 11:57 AM

Hi Jim,

It certainly is a puzzle why Briggs chose to the attribution he did for kaskara. The type really is not used among the Hausa at all, as evidenced by period photos, current parades and other traditional events as well as other written sources such as Bivar.

On the Fulani/Hausa subject - my understanding is that the integration occurred largely after the early 19th century Jihads and the foundation of the Sokoto caliphate. The Hausa were and are some of the most widely traveled and skilled merchants of the Sahel. Before the Fulani Jihad the Fulani tended to be pastoral while the Hausa controlled the major cities and formed the ruling and merchant classes.

Even in Bornu the takouba was in use as we can see from period photos of the Dikwa emirate. I have always been intrigued exactly where the overlap between the takouba and kaskara occurred and what resulted in those areas.

On the thuluth - Bivar, having examined the state sword at Daura seemed pretty certain this style was related to Mamluk script and the production of these items was centered in Nilotic Sudan.

I agree completely about the guard and its inscriptions on the kaskara that is the subject of this thread. The content of the inscriptions doesn't make much sense to me from a local perspective and I would guess it was added later.

On another note... The pommel of this kaskara seems a bit larger than most - would it be possible to see a better photo of it?

All the best,

Iain

Jim McDougall · 30th November 2012, 06:17 PM

Thank you Iain!
In going through notes and references to regain perspective on the complexities associated with these North African broadswords I had forgotten Bivar, an absolutely key reference. His notes regarding the style of thuluth on some of the blades there and probable origins from Mamlukes to the east in Nilotic Sudan are key to the idea of Sennar for plausible provenance of these distinct examples of kaskara. There are of course many other arms which carry the thuluth such as yataghans, knives, axes, throwing knives and of course the well known haladie, the dual bladed knife. It is well established that this apparantly Rajput origined weapon which derived or developed along with the madu madu later became associated with Syria (Stone). Syria of course was along with Egypt, Mamluk ruled, and this was another location where thuluth was well known on materials.

It does seem that arms entering through the Suakin port into the Sennar entrepot would provide a distinctly plausible provenance for these thuluth covered arms.
The next big question would be concerning the triple fuller blades on these presumed 'Sennar' blades, which are distinctly like thier takouba counterparts to the west. Rodd calls these 'Masri' (=Egyptian) but regards them as from the north in Tuareg parlance. I have seen these type blades on Indian pata, with the cosmological symbols previously discussed (I have one well worn example) which suggests these blades likely came from trade sources and probably in the mid to late 18th century. This blade does not have the dukari, so the suggestion would be that these blades probably came out of Germany? early and entered Red Sea trade routes. This would likely include Oman via thier entrepots as well.

As these blades entered trade routes, later when the trade supplies diminished during intensification of colonial presence, it would seem that native smiths began to duplicate these blades. The examples of early blades of this form gradually became dramatically reprofiled through constant sharpening with rugged methods in the Sahara, and the rounded point corresponded to the swordsmanship style which focused on slashing. The thrust was clearly associated with far more advanced fencing techniques, where slashing and chopping are simpler in basic combat, especially when mounted.

I very much agree on the reflection on the apparant integration in degree of the Fulani and Hausa after the jihads in the early 19th c. and while the Fulani were pastoral, the merchant class Hausa received far more renown obviously because they became so widely represented and known. This was again the reason why the Hausa language became largely a lingua francia, as it was essential in trade, the true driving force in cultural diffusion. I have always though the Hausa were blacksmiths making these blades, but I am beginning to think it was them as traders marketing them. This may well have been the reason behind Briggs attribution, as well as to the Mandingo, who controlled trade routes in Mali around Timbuctoo. Because they were often seen with these type of swords, probably among others, he likely assumed they were also users of them.

Just more theory, but thought I would sound it out here, and as always very much appreciate thoughts and feedback.

All the best,
Jim

Iain · 1st December 2012, 10:23 AM

Hi Jim,

Sennar ceased to be an independent sultanate in 1821 and was absorbed into Ottoman Egypt, later Egyptian Sudan. However Sennar was overrun by the Mahdi and his forces during the uprising. What you are suggesting is certainly a fairly probable vector for the thuluth weapons seen during this period.

Bivar is particularly emphatic about the influence and flow of arms out of Egypt into the rest of Africa. Regarding the triple fuller blades - there is a note in "Exchange Economy of Pre-Colonial Tropical Africa" by Sundstrom of a Solingen blade made to the "Tuareg" pattern and that straight blades were also imported to Darfur. I have linked previously in this thread to a Solingen blade (WC Clauberg) of the triple fuller pattern. It seems reasonably clear to me these blades were not made to a Tuareg/takouba pattern or a kaskara pattern. But were a general trade item taken up not just in Africa, but as you note in other regions as well.

I personally wouldn't describe Tuareg swordsmanship as basic - travelers like Lyon seemed suitably impressed.

"Their swords are straight and of great length, and they wield them with much ease and dexterity."

The lack of thrusting I think is a function merely of the opponents they would usually face - lightly armored for the most part. There are intriguing notes about their martial capabilities in some obscure sources like this 1933 publication regarding Moroccan Jujutsu by Armand Brigaud.

"Touareg swordsmen have a trick of kicking at the outthrust leg of an"
enemy swordsman while parrying a slash or a stroke. The split seconds
needed by their antagonists to recover their balance enable them to bring home
lightning thrusts or overhand counter-slashes."

So it would appear it was quite a bit more than just hack and slash!

Regarding the Hausa and black smithing. It is important to note the role metalworking had in these societies and the classes that formed around that.THE IMAGE OF HAUSA SMITHS
IN SOME WRITTEN SOURCES by Stanistaw PIkASZEWICZ is a good starting point.

There were differences in the quality produced between areas - for example Barth notes that around Kano the ore was inferior to that around Sokoto - where a very large smithing community existed, the Makera Assada. Other examples of this quality gap can be seen between places like Maradi, which produced inferior iron swords and Damagaram(Zinder) which apparently produced much higher quality items, including cannon (see “A Hausa kingdom: Maradi under Dan Beskore, 1854-1875.” by M.G. Smith). Zinder was a particularly interesting town, being a former vassal state of the Bornu empire, ruled by a Kanuri elite, but with a largely Hausa population and a significant Tuareg presence. A real melting pot!

So in short, the Hausa both traded and produced arms. Although production seems to have varied region to region. The flow of blades from Kano into the Sudan (well noted as a trade item often picked up by the caravans) were quite probably a mix then of European imports and native made blades. However I suspect that fewer native blades would have made the trip as the quality differences compared with European blades may have made the resale and profits margins rather small when factoring in the portage involved.

All the best,

Iain

Jim McDougall · 1st December 2012, 09:00 PM

Thank you so much Iain! Your well supported responses to my comments are outstanding and truly place these thoughts in much better perspective.
We have really come a long way in better understanding these swords thanks to the tenacious research you have spent in comprehensively studying them.

All the best,
Jim

"kipanga'
I trust this information has been helpful despite the deviation from 'medieval 'allusion. As we have noted, often times there is a great deal of deception in the antique arms business, and as Oakeshott often complained, many good kaskaras ended up misrepresented as crusader or medieval swords in earlier years.

As knowledge and understanding of these weapons has gratefully advanced, it becomes more difficult to perpetuate these kinds of facades, and in many cases the weapon retains its intrinsic value despite creative additions.

28th November 2012, 10:56 PM	#1
regihis Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 39	Since the beginning of the 17th century, Hausa has been written with a version of the Arabic script known as ajami. Most of the early writing in Hausa was Islamic poetry or on Islamic themes. If the verses are Hausa, Ajami or others languages?

30th November 2012, 12:57 AM	#2
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 9,785	Iain, Ive been rereading Briggs, and other notes concerning the strange attribution by him concerning 'Hausa' type hilts and swords, naturally written in the context of his landmark work on Tuareg swords and daggers. It seems he regards these swords which are clearly kaskara, as within the collective 'takouba' group and implies that Hausa and Mandingo used them. It is interesting that while he mentions the Sudan, and Ahaggar trade with northern central areas there (p.37), he does not note these swords coming from there. The Mandingo attribution is even more curious as they are known for the guardless sabres which correspond in degree to the form of takouba with curved blade called aljuinar (as per Lee Jones research). I have understood that the Hausa were blacksmiths, but they were also keen merchants, which accounts for thier language being the lingua francia of wide areas of the Sahara. In northern Nigerian regions as I understand, the Hausa and Fulani are regarded very much as the same tribal entity, with undoubtedly certain qualifications however. Since the Fulani were known users of the takouba, it seems odd that the obviously different sword type would be assumed to be Hausa. The thuluth seems to me most likely to be with Mamluk origins, as they are most known for thier use of this type of Islamic script. Since they were situated in Sennar nominally after thier flight from Egypt and later decimated by incursions by Mohammed Ali, it seems thier influence on this decoration of blades might be likely there. The fact that many German and other blades entered there via Suakin would have provided good numbers of blades which may have been then decorated accordingly. This was a trade center which certainly may have provided swords which would have entered westward caravans. As mentioned, this kaskara with brass guard is remarkably similar to the one I have, and this seems to be of a typing that very well might even predate the Mahdist period with these swords of Sennar. Regarding these curious stamps with the name Louis and the Roman numerals, I would suggest that perhaps this sword may have been collected and entered the community in earlier years. In those times there was ever the proclivity of medieval associations with these swords, as described by Oakeshott , and 'industrious' persons tried to pass these off as medieval. These stamps on the guard may have been from a less than well informed 'artisan' trying to allude to these kinds of associations. Regihis, most interesting entry on this Ajami script and the great example, thank you so much!!! All the best, Jim

30th November 2012, 11:57 AM	#3
Iain Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Olomouc Posts: 1,682	Hi Jim, It certainly is a puzzle why Briggs chose to the attribution he did for kaskara. The type really is not used among the Hausa at all, as evidenced by period photos, current parades and other traditional events as well as other written sources such as Bivar. On the Fulani/Hausa subject - my understanding is that the integration occurred largely after the early 19th century Jihads and the foundation of the Sokoto caliphate. The Hausa were and are some of the most widely traveled and skilled merchants of the Sahel. Before the Fulani Jihad the Fulani tended to be pastoral while the Hausa controlled the major cities and formed the ruling and merchant classes. Even in Bornu the takouba was in use as we can see from period photos of the Dikwa emirate. I have always been intrigued exactly where the overlap between the takouba and kaskara occurred and what resulted in those areas. On the thuluth - Bivar, having examined the state sword at Daura seemed pretty certain this style was related to Mamluk script and the production of these items was centered in Nilotic Sudan. I agree completely about the guard and its inscriptions on the kaskara that is the subject of this thread. The content of the inscriptions doesn't make much sense to me from a local perspective and I would guess it was added later. On another note... The pommel of this kaskara seems a bit larger than most - would it be possible to see a better photo of it? All the best, Iain

30th November 2012, 06:17 PM	#4
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 9,785	Thank you Iain! In going through notes and references to regain perspective on the complexities associated with these North African broadswords I had forgotten Bivar, an absolutely key reference. His notes regarding the style of thuluth on some of the blades there and probable origins from Mamlukes to the east in Nilotic Sudan are key to the idea of Sennar for plausible provenance of these distinct examples of kaskara. There are of course many other arms which carry the thuluth such as yataghans, knives, axes, throwing knives and of course the well known haladie, the dual bladed knife. It is well established that this apparantly Rajput origined weapon which derived or developed along with the madu madu later became associated with Syria (Stone). Syria of course was along with Egypt, Mamluk ruled, and this was another location where thuluth was well known on materials. It does seem that arms entering through the Suakin port into the Sennar entrepot would provide a distinctly plausible provenance for these thuluth covered arms. The next big question would be concerning the triple fuller blades on these presumed 'Sennar' blades, which are distinctly like thier takouba counterparts to the west. Rodd calls these 'Masri' (=Egyptian) but regards them as from the north in Tuareg parlance. I have seen these type blades on Indian pata, with the cosmological symbols previously discussed (I have one well worn example) which suggests these blades likely came from trade sources and probably in the mid to late 18th century. This blade does not have the dukari, so the suggestion would be that these blades probably came out of Germany? early and entered Red Sea trade routes. This would likely include Oman via thier entrepots as well. As these blades entered trade routes, later when the trade supplies diminished during intensification of colonial presence, it would seem that native smiths began to duplicate these blades. The examples of early blades of this form gradually became dramatically reprofiled through constant sharpening with rugged methods in the Sahara, and the rounded point corresponded to the swordsmanship style which focused on slashing. The thrust was clearly associated with far more advanced fencing techniques, where slashing and chopping are simpler in basic combat, especially when mounted. I very much agree on the reflection on the apparant integration in degree of the Fulani and Hausa after the jihads in the early 19th c. and while the Fulani were pastoral, the merchant class Hausa received far more renown obviously because they became so widely represented and known. This was again the reason why the Hausa language became largely a lingua francia, as it was essential in trade, the true driving force in cultural diffusion. I have always though the Hausa were blacksmiths making these blades, but I am beginning to think it was them as traders marketing them. This may well have been the reason behind Briggs attribution, as well as to the Mandingo, who controlled trade routes in Mali around Timbuctoo. Because they were often seen with these type of swords, probably among others, he likely assumed they were also users of them. Just more theory, but thought I would sound it out here, and as always very much appreciate thoughts and feedback. All the best, Jim

1st December 2012, 10:23 AM	#5
Iain Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Olomouc Posts: 1,682	Hi Jim, Sennar ceased to be an independent sultanate in 1821 and was absorbed into Ottoman Egypt, later Egyptian Sudan. However Sennar was overrun by the Mahdi and his forces during the uprising. What you are suggesting is certainly a fairly probable vector for the thuluth weapons seen during this period. Bivar is particularly emphatic about the influence and flow of arms out of Egypt into the rest of Africa. Regarding the triple fuller blades - there is a note in "Exchange Economy of Pre-Colonial Tropical Africa" by Sundstrom of a Solingen blade made to the "Tuareg" pattern and that straight blades were also imported to Darfur. I have linked previously in this thread to a Solingen blade (WC Clauberg) of the triple fuller pattern. It seems reasonably clear to me these blades were not made to a Tuareg/takouba pattern or a kaskara pattern. But were a general trade item taken up not just in Africa, but as you note in other regions as well. I personally wouldn't describe Tuareg swordsmanship as basic - travelers like Lyon seemed suitably impressed. "Their swords are straight and of great length, and they wield them with much ease and dexterity." The lack of thrusting I think is a function merely of the opponents they would usually face - lightly armored for the most part. There are intriguing notes about their martial capabilities in some obscure sources like this 1933 publication regarding Moroccan Jujutsu by Armand Brigaud. "Touareg swordsmen have a trick of kicking at the outthrust leg of an" enemy swordsman while parrying a slash or a stroke. The split seconds needed by their antagonists to recover their balance enable them to bring home lightning thrusts or overhand counter-slashes." So it would appear it was quite a bit more than just hack and slash! Regarding the Hausa and black smithing. It is important to note the role metalworking had in these societies and the classes that formed around that.THE IMAGE OF HAUSA SMITHS IN SOME WRITTEN SOURCES by Stanistaw PIkASZEWICZ is a good starting point. There were differences in the quality produced between areas - for example Barth notes that around Kano the ore was inferior to that around Sokoto - where a very large smithing community existed, the Makera Assada. Other examples of this quality gap can be seen between places like Maradi, which produced inferior iron swords and Damagaram(Zinder) which apparently produced much higher quality items, including cannon (see “A Hausa kingdom: Maradi under Dan Beskore, 1854-1875.” by M.G. Smith). Zinder was a particularly interesting town, being a former vassal state of the Bornu empire, ruled by a Kanuri elite, but with a largely Hausa population and a significant Tuareg presence. A real melting pot! So in short, the Hausa both traded and produced arms. Although production seems to have varied region to region. The flow of blades from Kano into the Sudan (well noted as a trade item often picked up by the caravans) were quite probably a mix then of European imports and native made blades. However I suspect that fewer native blades would have made the trip as the quality differences compared with European blades may have made the resale and profits margins rather small when factoring in the portage involved. All the best, Iain

1st December 2012, 09:00 PM	#6
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 9,785	Thank you so much Iain! Your well supported responses to my comments are outstanding and truly place these thoughts in much better perspective. We have really come a long way in better understanding these swords thanks to the tenacious research you have spent in comprehensively studying them. All the best, Jim "kipanga' I trust this information has been helpful despite the deviation from 'medieval 'allusion. As we have noted, often times there is a great deal of deception in the antique arms business, and as Oakeshott often complained, many good kaskaras ended up misrepresented as crusader or medieval swords in earlier years. As knowledge and understanding of these weapons has gratefully advanced, it becomes more difficult to perpetuate these kinds of facades, and in many cases the weapon retains its intrinsic value despite creative additions.