Sword, Sheath and Belt

This is a sword in red leather sheath with a belt attached on it. This is the short old man's sword which is worn hanging down vertically from the waist belt (the longer warriors sword is worn horizontally). The blade was made by a blacksmith, the sheath by another craftsman. Two thin pieces of wood are covered with cowskin with the hair removed. It is dyed red with colour obtained from boiling the roots of the "Musigiu" tree. The skin is put on whilst wet so that it fits tightly with "Roga" (sinew). The leather on the handle is a cows tail which is put on wet water and bound on with a string. When it has dried the string is removed.