JAMBIAH DAGGER

According to Malay manuscripts, the jambiah is a weapon belonging to the dagger category. It differs in shape from any other weaponry found throughout the Archipelago and displays a distinctly Arabian influence. Its use spread across Southeast Asia, including the region of Nusantara (the Indonesian archipelago), to which it was introduced during the 19th century. Its entry point, by Middle Eastern traders who wished to engage in commerce with the region, was the city of Palembang, which is located on the banks of the Musi River, and had, by then, turned into an international trading gateway.