Coals of Mail Worn by Arabs in the Soudan.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 121, 30 May 1885, Page 5

Coals of Mail Worn by Arabs in the Soudan.

Coats ot mail aro still in uso among somo of the Soudanoso Arab tribes. Whether original or v copy, says Col. Colbourne, in speaking of ono of theso coats of armour, it was undoubtedly tho dress of tho Crusaders. Tho hauberk of mail was fastened round the body by a balt.m, and formed a complete covering from head to foot. The long twohanded doubloedged sword was borne between the leg and tho saddle. The wearer of this media-vat garb was Sheik Mohammed, Sheik of the Hnlawin tribo of Bagarra Arabs. His armour had been in his family 310 years The horse's head was encased in steel, and its body covered with a gilt thick enough to turn a spear. It was shaped like tho armour ono reads of in Froissart.

It has been assorted in connection with this curious subject that the practice survives in tho Soudan ulono. It may, therefore, bo well to state that it is also found among the Khevsur people of the Central Caucasus, who still habitually wear chain armour, shields and helmets, like mediaeval knights. In fact, it was formerly general among all tho Caucasian tribes, and tbe Chechen/.es of Dugheßtan still woro coats of mail down to tho boginning to the present contury.

Tho armour dobs not appear to have been forged by theso people themselve, but was handed down, among the Soudanose Arabs, as an heirloom Horn generation to generation in tho families of chiefs, Hence the inference thut this armour dutes everywhere from the times of tho Crusales, of which it may be regarded as a remarkable reminiscence.—From tho "Athena-uni."'