Walking Poles - I hate myself just thinking of them!

[Mortblanc]

First time I have ever heard a walking staff referred too as a "vile thing" as if it had an evil will of its own.

It is a stick, turned into a tool, probably one of the first tools invented my man.

First came into use when some slope headed creature finally decided it was best to carry the stick from one place to the other where a stick might not be available. Found it was not only useful for smashing into termite mounds but also for digging roots and smacking the odd sabre tooth that might come along.

My own has a very nice brass fitting on top for use as a stray dog smacker.