62 BULLETIN 134, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



and in the number and type of barbs. A typical simple and fixed 

 iron arrowhead is usually attached to a hard chonta palm wood 

 foreshaft which in turn is inserted into the pith core of a reed 

 shaft (Cat. No. 327601-B, U.S.N.M., pi. 11, No. 1), 134 cm. (52.4 in.) 

 in length. At its distal end a groove is cut into the foreshaft 

 to a depth of 3 or more inches; into this hollowed groove the 

 end of an iron rod is inserted; alongside the rod at the two open 

 edges are laid splints of cane or of bamboo, which are exactly 

 fitted to the length and the width of the groove ; the now inclosed 

 base of the iron rod arrowhead is seized with a wrapping of cotton 

 cord in a double crossed roll and covered with Ceroxylon audi cola 

 gum and beeswax cement. The tip of the* arrowhead is sharply 

 pointed and unbarbed. 



An example of a compound fixed iron arrowhead (Cat. No. 

 327601-F, U.S.N.M.) composed of 2 thin single barbed iron arrow- 

 head prongs inserted into a palmwood foreshaft, together 35.8 

 cm. (14.1 in.) in length (pi. 11, No. 2), was collected at Caledonia 

 village on Caledonia Bay by the Marsh-Darien Expedition, as were 

 other long shafted, iron headed arrows designed for shooting turtles 

 and large fish (pi. 11.) 



A variety of turtle harpoon, " arvon suwara," (Tule) is composed 

 of a triangular steel head pointed and barbed with a series of barbs 

 at each of the three lateral edges (Cat. No. 327609-11, U.S.N.M., 

 pi. 11, Nos. 3 and 4.) The 18.9 centimeter (7 in.) long harpoon 

 head is attached to a wooden shaft nearly 13 feet long made of 

 "irsuwala," (Tule), wood. A lead core encircling the base of the 

 steel head has attached to it a heavy cord loop comprising 3 sepa- 

 rate cord loops, each made from a heavy three-ply cord held together 

 with cord seizing except for a loop spaced to slip over the shaft 

 when the harpoon head is detached upon striking; the head is 

 embedded in the fish or turtle and may be retrieved with a line 

 attached to the loop where it is attached to the harpoon head base. 

 Iron and steel employed in the manufacture of the harpoon heads 

 is obtained by the Indians in trade, so that the triangular form 

 is probably accidental. Another harpoon head 18.8 cm. (7.4 in.) 

 in length has been painstakingly shaped from a common com- 

 mercial hand file into a harpoon head with pointed apex; the 

 head has one ornamental and 3 series of double barbs placed bi- 

 laterally (Cat. No. 327611, U.S.N.M., pi. 11, No. 4). In the beauty 

 of ornamental design and in the harmony of proportions found in 

 these iron and steel harpoon heads, a recurrence of ancient artistry 

 in metal work may be noted. Painstakingly shaped with crude 

 instruments, the chased ornamental design might well be the prod- 

 uct of a more favored craftsman. 



