ANGLO-SUDANESE WAR BELT DAGGER

Mahdist period C.1885. Horn of Africa, Djibouti, area. Classic form indigenous to the region and used specifically for ham stringing. 9" medially ridged, swelled medial blade with tool finish. Black horn grip with scalloped edge brass pommel plate. Leather scabbard skillfully tooled in lattice pattern. The back pierced for a belt loop. Excellent preservation and evidently collected by a British soldier during the war. The people of the region were indoctrinated to Islam for more than a thousand years and supported the Mahdi in his effort to purify Sudan by elimination of all but Moslems.