AZANDE (CONGOLESE) SLAVER’S SWORD.

From the Baptist Missionary Society Collection. Second half of the 19^th century when the slave trade was primarily for the Arab market and human consumption (cannibalism). . That last, flesh for human consumption, had largely been ignored but for a few accounts like Glave. Recent anthropological studies assisted by the wealth of information compiled on the internet attribute a much greater proportion of the slave harvest to the cannibalism market. This example of characteristic form with 13” blade with ridges flanking the center and iron trade tape wrapped wood grip Well use and with original preservative on the blade. The Baptist Missionary Society collection was collected by Missionaries and traveled to churches in England for “Mission Sunday” fund raising. The practice was discontinued in the 1930’s and the collection sold about 1980 at Christies London..