Arsenic?!

I visited the Sultan’s Palace (yes Sultan) in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. I checked with my guide to make sure it was ok for me to photograph the guards, she said of course! A little different where I am from in the USA. I just wanted a simple detail shot of his uniform and sword. Not only did one of the guards happily pose for me, he also apologized to the guide that he could not show me the sword as it was coated with Arsenic! I didn’t see any guns while on the grounds, but a sword with arsenic seems deadly enough.