634 NORTH AMERICAN BOWS, ARROWK, AND QUIVERS. 



abuiubuice, es})e('j;illy in tlie Soulheiii States of the Union. One or 

 two tribes of the Mnskliogean stoek and tlie Cherokees em])h)ytliis wea- 

 pon for killinj;' biribs in swampy i»bices. The Choctaws about New 

 Orleans make still a eonipoundblowtnbe by fastening four or five reeds 

 together after the manner of the I'andean jjipe. lu ]\Iexico and Central 

 America this weapon was common. In tropical South America, how- 

 ever, much care was bestowed upon the manufacture of two varieties 

 of Zarabatana constructed of two pieces of wood grooved and fitted 

 together and the Pucuna made by inserting one tube inside of another 

 and tamping the interveuing places with wax. 



From the inventor's point of view, the blow-tube with the dart, driven 

 to the mark by the elasticity of the breath, should be the antecedent 

 and parent of the gun, pistol, and cannon.* Historically the archer 

 was the father of the cannonier. It is doubtful whether the inventors 

 of gunpowder ever saw an American <n- Malayan blow-tube. 



The universal projecting device of Noith America was the bow for 

 propelling arrows and barl)ed harpoons. It is found in its simplest 

 form in tlie south and east and becomes more complicated as we travel 

 westward and nortliwnrd. The following tyi)esare to be distinguished: 



First. The plain or '• self" bow, made of a single [)iece of hard, elastic 

 wood, in each locality the best that could be found. (Plates LXi-LXiii.) 



Second. The com])ound l)ow made of two or more pieces of wood, 

 baleen, antler, horn or bone fastened together. (Plates lxii,lxiv,i.xv.) 



Third. The sinew-lined bow, consisting of a single piece of yew or 

 other wood, on the back of which shredded sinew is i)lastered by means 

 of glue. (Plates LXI-LXIII.) 



Fourth. The sinew-corded bow used almost exclusively by the 

 Eskimo. They are made from drift and other wood and backed with 

 finely twisted or braided sinew cord and reinforced with wedges, 

 splints, and bridges. (Plates lxv-lxxiii.) 



Each one of these fimr types may be sub-divided according to the 

 region or tribe. Every location furnishes a species of wood or mateiial 

 best suited for the bow-nuxker, and this has its effect upon the structure 

 of the weai)on. The game to be killed is another cause of variation. The 

 tribal fashions, and material, and game, bring to pass a goodly number 

 of special forms of bows which will now have to be studied in more 

 detail, commencing at the south where the structure is simplest and 

 proceeding to the north where it is most comi)lex. Associated with 

 each tyi)e and structure and region of the bow was its appropriate arrow. 

 Kothing c<»uld be more intimate than this relationship. It might almost 

 with safety be said that the arrows of each culture region could be shot 

 with little effect from the bows of another region. 



Again, excepting the little piercer at the end, which does tlie killing, 

 the arrows shaft and feathers and nock really belong to the bow, that 

 is, to the manual or operative itart before mentioned. 



* It is worthy of note, that etijmologically " cauuoa," is a derivative from the 

 Greek Kiwa—n reed. 



