Walking stick stick. In addition to its value as a decorative accessory, it also continued to fulfil some of the function of the sword as a weapon. The standard cane was rattan with a rounded metal grip. The clouded cane was made of malacca (rattan stems) and showed the patina of age: Some canes had specially weighted metalwork. Other types of wood, such as hickory, are equally suitable. Various staffs of office derived from walking sticks or staffs are used by both western and eastern Christian churches. In Islam the walking stick ('Asa) is considered a Sunnah and Muslims are encouraged to
The Magic Walking Stick helps a beleaguered young prince in a Balkan kingdom. After hearing an old legend, Bill comes to believe the stick is one of the two staves mentioned in the Book of Zechariah 11:7, but whether it is "Beauty", which favours the pursuit of pleasure, or "Bands", which should be used only for serious purposes, he cannot decide. The novel was first published in 1932 by Hodder & Stoughton, in an edition illustrated by John Morton Sale. "The Magic Walking Stick" is Buchan's only novel for children. An early short version of the story was contained in a contribution that Buchan