SECRET ARMS IN THE EAST.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXIX, Issue 120, 23 May 1895, Page 4

SECRET ARMS IN THE EAST.

Saturday Eeview,

' In Hindustan there is a choice ot Becrelarmß. 'Ihepupti, or sword-stick, may, bo bought in every bazaar, and is said to have been used in tho days of Akbav (1543-1605), but it is doubtful whether the phrase in tho " Ain-i. A kban" of /= flul.Pbzl does not raiher nfer. to tho Arab dagger, with its deop sheath containing both blade and halt. If the traveller prefers it, be may buy a sword ' thin and flexible as the Toledo coil, d blades, to wiud round his waist in his cnmrneibnud. If ha be a fakir, the ornamental crutch which upholds his arm jvbile he edifies the faithful by silent reflections upon the syllable Om will contain 'a shai p.poiuted quadrangle blade (or tlie confusion of tho unbeliever. Even lovely women in the harem carries a miniature katar with H-shaped grip, or a_ diminutive pesbkabz, doublo-curved, singl'e.edgcd, atrooious. In Mysore and Hyderabad the bichhwa (scorpion)— the double-curved misericordia of tha Kaßt — is cahied by tho lower cla6eea hidden up tbb sleeve, and is made right or left, handed to suite all tastes. It is a favourite and effectual weapon of assassination, being diiveu downward from behind iußide tho collar-bone, and is sometimes doub ( le-bladcd and poisoned, the poison being cariied in a suitable hollow in tbe hilt. Tho double curve of tbe blade, deTb,e strangest of seoret arms is.perhaps the bagh nakh. or tiger claw, of the Mahpttas, witb its two rings for the, firvfc .and lourtli fingers, and the three to five curved steel c-lawf, intended to protrude Iroin the closed hand between the fiugots and to rip open or mangle tbe v:otijn. 'Ike hand hull open uhows only f.wo bright ringe round the fingers. The clinched fits btcomes the aimed paw of tho human tiger. Mr ilgertou tells us how the Mabratta leader Sivaji murdered bis eiiemy Afzal Khan, after inviting him to a ; conference in which each should j come with one attendant only. Kiviji I woro a mail oap and coat under his turban and cotton gowu, bad a bich'hwa in hie right eleeve and a bagh /iakh on his left nand. The kuan had only his bwoih, and sent away his follower to reassure Sivujii who was of small stature and ; counterfeited timidity. "In thu midst of tbe customary embrace Sivaji struck the bagh nakh into the bowels of Alzal Kban, who quickly disengaged Himself, and clapped his hand on his sword, exolaiming ' Treachery and murder !' but Bivaji instantly followed up the blow with bis dagger, Tbe khan had drawn his sword and made a cut at Kivaii, bat tbe concealed armour tras proof against the blow.' 'lhe whole was the work of a moment, and bivaji waß wreßtling the weapon from the hand of his viotim before tho attendant could run towardo him " rived from that of a cow's horn and resomb; ling that ol a scorpion's sting, recurs in the khanjar und chilanum and throughout Afghaui6tan. With a variety of this weapon Lieutenant Willis was killed in the battle of Oandahar.

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