Dagger

Tappi lamba

Note: The following text is taken from a 19th-century collection catalog and, in its language and perspective, partially reflects colonial thought patterns. We present the text in its original version to make the collection's history transparent and promote a critical examination of the colonial legacy. Certain terms and formulations may be perceived as problematic today. A 2009 research project concluded that most descriptions are factually correct and still usable; only a few details were found to be inaccurate or incorrect. The results of this project were published in the following collection catalog: https://khm-wmw-tm-library.on.worldcat.org/oclc/1457155265

"70. Dagger - "Tappi lamba".
This dagger, Malaysian "kris", like the kalewang, is a typical national weapon used by nearly all the peoples of the East Indian Archipelago. It is worn on the belt, is inseparable from every man who belongs to one of the better social ranks. It lays next to the head of the sleeper. Depending on the form of the blade there are a large number of types, all of which have their own names and which are carefully differentiated by tiny differences which are of utmost importance to the natives. The kris is a holy weapon which is passed on in the family for centuries and to which various wonders are attributed and they are surrounded by mysterious superstitions. Basically two types are differentiated, those with straight and those with wavy, asymmetrical blades. With the straight ones there are again many differences; with the wavy ones it is the number of "bends", which is important, the more bends, the more valuable. There are krises with three, five, seven and nine bends. Nearly all the blades are damascened, more or less finely. The pattern of the damascening is of great importance because it is possible to read from it the fate of the weapon as well as that of the owner. It is certain patterns that make such a kris a rare object and for which hundreds of Gulden are paid. All these daggers have a sheath either of wood or of metal, silver or gold which is usually worked with magnificent and precious chasing. The sheath runs to the hilt of the blade and ends in a broad flanged end-piece, "djonga-djonga" which is carved from the finest types of wood and is set at the lower part of the sheath, which is called "wanuwa". The veining of this piece is also of great importance and is expensive. This also has an influence on the fate of the weapon and its owner. If this end-piece is also of wood, the Buginese wind the places where this end-piece is connected to the sheath with a wool or gold cord, "pabobba tolitoli" about three centimetres wide, and do the same with the lower end of the sheath, "pababba potto tappi". On the upper cord winding there is a loop, "toli-toli", also of wool or gold cord, through which the belt is threaded. The hilt is either of wood, horn, ivory or precious metal. The hilts are often true works of the carving and chasing arts, often set with precious stones and pearls. Noblemen have krises that are worth many thousands of Gulden. The hilt of the kris of the Buginese, in contrast to those of the other ethnic groups, is right-angled in the middle, bent towards the flat side of the blade, which gives the cut greater thrust. The hilt is called "pangulu", the blade "mata". The part of the blade which meets hilt is broad and widens into two wing-like extensions of different lengths, which fit in the upper, leaf-shaped part of the sheath. This part of the blade is called "kanjtjing". It should also be mentioned that there is a deviation on the straight and the wavy blades, the "tappi sapukala" and the "tappi lamba". The blade often has an indentation, or groove, running lengthwise along both sides, from the hilt towards the tip, into which a poisonous plant juice is smeared which will infect the wound and makes it incurable. In the following, concerning the blade, only three main differences will be mentioned. These are straight, curvy, with or without a poison groove. The present kris has a wavy blade, therefore it is a "tappi lamba". The blade is well damascened, the sheath and the hilt are of wood and very simple."

Translation of: Czurda, F. A. J. (1883). Catalog mit Erklärungen der Etnografischen Privatsammlung des Dr. F. A. J. Czurda in Postelberg (Böhmen). (p. 15-17). Wien, Wilhelm Braumüller