Subject: tesumajipic warrior

Culture: Asmat

Setting: tribal warfare, Casuarina Coast 20thc

Object: daggers

Ase Pisua

* Langness/Weschler eds. 1971 p272 (Gerard A Zegwaard, "Headhunting practices of the Asmat of west New Guinea" p254-278)

"[A]n asé pitsua [is] a dagger of cassowary bone, worn on the hip as proof of being a great headhunter."

* Blair/Blair 1988 p177 caption

"A stabbing-dagger [is] made from the shinbone of a Cassuari bird"

* Langness/Weschler eds. 1971 p274 (Gerard A Zegwaard, "Headhunting practices of the Asmat of west New Guinea" p254-278)

"Some ornamentation (perhaps not all) seems to have been symbols of the sun, moon, and clouds: red ochre -- light of the sun; white chalk -- light of the moon; black ash -- rain cloud.

"Cassowary and human bones, used as daggers, resemble the crescent moon ...."

Ew Karowan

* Eyde 1967 p25

"Another symbol of prowess as a headhunter is the dagger made from the back portion of the side of a crocodile jaw, ew karowan. These are often elaborately decorated with Job's tears and feathers."

* Rogers 1970 p20

"[C]rocodile jaw bones [are used] for daggers."