NO. 2275. USE OF SLINGtS IN PRE-COLUMBIAN AMERICA— MEANS. 319 



lasted not more than 40 years or so in Ecuador, and it is possible 

 that the sling never gained a real foothold in the country. 



The sling appears not to have been used at all in early days in the 

 Amazonian and Montana regions of South America, for the blow- 

 gun, the bow and arrows, and the javelin combined to fill the needs 

 of the people as to long-distance weapons.^ The use of poisoned 

 darts was very general in these regions, just as it was in parts of 

 Central America. 



In northwestern Argentina the sling was of common occurrence 

 from Inca times onward, and it may have been in use before thelnca 

 clan extended its rule over that part of the continent.^ Boman gives 

 a picture of a sling of the ribbed type having six ribs, bound in two 

 groups of three ribs each. This specimen is almost precisely like 

 some of those in the collection we shall shortly examine. The Arau- 

 canians of Chile, in immediately pre-Spanish times at least, used 

 slings and were very dextrous with them.^ I am inclined to think 

 that the sling was, in Argentina and in Chile, an intrusive element 

 introduced from Peru. 



Having thus briefly reviewed the position held by the sling in 

 America as a whole, the question of its use and distribution in Peru 

 now presents itself for consideration. In the first place, the dis- 

 tribution of the weapon will be traced, beginning in the north. 



Zarate tells us that the arms which the people of the Isle la Puna 

 employ in their combats " are arrows and slings. * * * " * 



This, as far as laiown, is the northernmost limit of the sling on the 

 Peruvian coast. Somewhat to the south began the domains of the 

 Chimu, stretching down the coast as far as Pativilca, Parmunca 

 (modern Paramonga), or Huaman (modern la Barranca)." No 

 doubt this large territory was subdivided into political units con- 

 terminous with the many valleys involved, but at the time of the 

 Inca conquest the Chimu Capac, whose seat, now known as the Grand 

 Chimu, was near the modern Trujillo, held a sway which was not 

 merely nominal over the northern half of the Peruvian coast. Be- 

 tween the indeterminate southern limits of the Chimu's dominion 

 and Chancay there was a region, now rich in archeological remains, 

 the old political status of which is uncertain.*' Still more southward, 

 the valleys from Chancay to Pachacamac were under a chief bearing 

 the title or name of Cuismancu. Pachacamac, as well known, was 

 a famous place of temples and pilgrimage for people from the sur- 



iWhiffen, 191.5, pp. 115-117. 



sBomtin, 1908, pp. 451-453 and fig. 97. 



•Molina, 1809, vol. 2, p. 72. 



*ZSrat(>, 18.30, vol. 1, p. 23. (Translation mine.) 



•Markham, 1912, p. 181. Squlcr, 1877, p. 165. Garcia Rosell, 1903, pp. 199-203. 



•Idem, p. 181. 



