Mishmi sword

 

The Mishmi people, also called Deng in the Tibet region, consist of three main ethnic groups: the Idu Mishmis (also known as Dibong, Chulikattas, Midhi, and Idu Lhoba), the Digaru Mishmis (Tain, Taeen and Darang Deng) and the Miju Mishmis (Mezhoo, Kaman Deng). All these groups belong to the Mongoloid type and speak a Tibeto-Burman language. This division into three ethnic subgroups is linked to their geographical distribution: in the districts of Lohit, Anjaw, and the Dibang valley, in Arunachal Pradesh, as well as in the Assam region.

 

 

They carry long blades obtained by barter with neighboring regions of Tibet. These blades feature a classic Tibetan shape, recognizable by their hairpin pattern. John Butler, in A Sketch of Assam (1847), describes them thus: 'The men carry a long straight sword, made in China, decorated with a tuft of colored hair.' Other authors refer to these blades as being 'Lama sabers'. However, although they are of Tibetan origin, these weapons are easily distinguishable from those of other tribes, their style being unique. These large sabres, worn on the left, therefore have the back of the blade which rests against the sheath. A mishmi sword is housed in the Horniman Museum collection under the n°nn18567.1.

This type of saber is distinguished by its trapezoidal pommel, from which leather straps and locks of hair hang. The handle is usually covered in lacquered leather. The sheath, for its part, is covered in lacquered leather on its upper part and in woven rattan on its lower part. A button protects the end of the sheath, and two metal elements, located at the entrance and in the middle, allow you to attach a rattan shoulder strap. Metal fittings can be copper, brass, aluminum or iron. Of the specimen in our possession, two are in copper and one in iron or steel, probably a later repair.

Our example is one of the most complete observed on the market and is distinguished by its excellent state of preservation. The notable presence of a talisman made of dyed hair, as well as the marking in red ink of an old inventory number (illegible) on the scabbard and the handle, make it an exceptional piece. The Tibetan blade, decorated with a double hairpin motif, has an angular tip and is also in a very good state of preservation.