TETELA SLAVER'S SWORD

Fischer #226. Iron blade, 12 1/4" length, d.e. of spear from with flared base on thickened toothed edge bolster. Wood grip flared at both terminals with simple incised line decoration to the base. Shows smooth glossy patina with wear and light encrustation from handling. Blade shows forged lamination, mostly smooth with some areas black oxidation with pitting consistent with its age. The Tetela were considered the most vicious and most feared of Congolese slavers. They were savage in their attacks which included tribal war for the purpose of slave captures. They fought and defeated the forces of the Mad Mahdi in 1886.