Ethiopian 19th century Gurade

VANDOO · 4th February 2015, 01:12 AM

THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A VERY LONG TIME. I WAS IN DJBOUTI SEVERAL YEARS AGO AND SAW 100 OR MORE OF THESE SWORDS ALL WITH REPLACED HANDLES MADE OF SEVERAL PIECES OF HORN OR WOOD. THE REPLACEMENTS WERE OLD AND SHOWED GOOD PATINA AND WEAR AND SOME HAD THE BETTER IMPORTED BLADES THAT NO DOUBT HAD RHINO HILTS AT SOME TIME. THE SILVER POMMELS WERE MISSING TOO. I SUSPECT A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF THE NATIVE MADE SWORDS NEVER HAD RHINO HILTS OR SILVER POMMEL CAPS BUT MOST THAT DID LOST THEM LONG AGO. UNFORTUNATELY THERE ARE PLENTY OF PEOPLE WHO WOULD BUY THE REMAINING SWORDS AND DESTROY THEM TODAY.
MOST LIKELY THE LEGENDS OF THE UNICORN GO BACK TO PREHISTORIC TIMES IT IS UNFORTUNATE THEY PERSIST TODAY AND ENDANGER THE SURVIVAL OF A UNIQUE AND INTERESTING ANIMAL. NO DOUBT A VERY SMALL AMOUNT OF RHINO HORN MIXED IN WITH THE GROUND DUST OF ALMOST ANYTHING SERVES AS THE MEDICINE SOLD TO ALL BUT THE RICHEST CUSTOMERS. IT IS A VERY LONG RUNNING CON AND THOUGH NOT AS DESTRUCTIVE TO PEOPLE AS DRUGS IT DESTROYS RHINOS AND ARTEFACTS INDESCRINIMATELY.

Dimasalang · 5th February 2015, 11:05 PM

I recently watched a documentary on rhino poaching and where these horns were ending up. They are mostly going to Asia, many Asians believe it does sever as a super medicine. Oddly enough they mentioned many of the horns ended up in Vietnam, as many Vietnamese and Chinese living there believe in its powers more than in other areas. While Vietnam is a poor country, the rich and powerful elite were the ones buying it. Many believe it restored their vitality; so to these old folks they swear by it as being the fountain of youth. One individual who resided in Vietnam showed he was dying of cancer, but the rhino horn reduced the cancer to the point he now goes about his daily life with no issues. He showed his stash, and it was only a small chunk, about the size of a small medicine bottle, which he says he paid about US$5000 for it. He also showed how they prepared it, only scraping off little shreds and putting it in tea to drink, the strength they say lasted several days. So a small amount will last a very long time.

Just to add, South-East Asia do still have Rhinos. In Vietnam they are completely wiped out and extinct. They are different compared to the African rhino in that they only have one horn which is also very short and stubby. So it is not like the rhino was a completely foreign animal to Asians.

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4th February 2015, 01:12 AM	#1
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A VERY LONG TIME. I WAS IN DJBOUTI SEVERAL YEARS AGO AND SAW 100 OR MORE OF THESE SWORDS ALL WITH REPLACED HANDLES MADE OF SEVERAL PIECES OF HORN OR WOOD. THE REPLACEMENTS WERE OLD AND SHOWED GOOD PATINA AND WEAR AND SOME HAD THE BETTER IMPORTED BLADES THAT NO DOUBT HAD RHINO HILTS AT SOME TIME. THE SILVER POMMELS WERE MISSING TOO. I SUSPECT A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF THE NATIVE MADE SWORDS NEVER HAD RHINO HILTS OR SILVER POMMEL CAPS BUT MOST THAT DID LOST THEM LONG AGO. UNFORTUNATELY THERE ARE PLENTY OF PEOPLE WHO WOULD BUY THE REMAINING SWORDS AND DESTROY THEM TODAY. MOST LIKELY THE LEGENDS OF THE UNICORN GO BACK TO PREHISTORIC TIMES IT IS UNFORTUNATE THEY PERSIST TODAY AND ENDANGER THE SURVIVAL OF A UNIQUE AND INTERESTING ANIMAL. NO DOUBT A VERY SMALL AMOUNT OF RHINO HORN MIXED IN WITH THE GROUND DUST OF ALMOST ANYTHING SERVES AS THE MEDICINE SOLD TO ALL BUT THE RICHEST CUSTOMERS. IT IS A VERY LONG RUNNING CON AND THOUGH NOT AS DESTRUCTIVE TO PEOPLE AS DRUGS IT DESTROYS RHINOS AND ARTEFACTS INDESCRINIMATELY.

5th February 2015, 11:05 PM	#2
Dimasalang Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 264	I recently watched a documentary on rhino poaching and where these horns were ending up. They are mostly going to Asia, many Asians believe it does sever as a super medicine. Oddly enough they mentioned many of the horns ended up in Vietnam, as many Vietnamese and Chinese living there believe in its powers more than in other areas. While Vietnam is a poor country, the rich and powerful elite were the ones buying it. Many believe it restored their vitality; so to these old folks they swear by it as being the fountain of youth. One individual who resided in Vietnam showed he was dying of cancer, but the rhino horn reduced the cancer to the point he now goes about his daily life with no issues. He showed his stash, and it was only a small chunk, about the size of a small medicine bottle, which he says he paid about US$5000 for it. He also showed how they prepared it, only scraping off little shreds and putting it in tea to drink, the strength they say lasted several days. So a small amount will last a very long time. Just to add, South-East Asia do still have Rhinos. In Vietnam they are completely wiped out and extinct. They are different compared to the African rhino in that they only have one horn which is also very short and stubby. So it is not like the rhino was a completely foreign animal to Asians.