SLIXCJ rONTTUVANCES VOV, PTJOJF.rTTl.E WEAPONS.^ 



By F. Krax^se, 

 Lripzif/. 



There is nlready a rich, though scattered, literature on the subject 

 of sling contrivances for missile weapons, but it is made uj) mostly of 

 travelei's' notes, mentioning these contrivances in certain localities, 

 although there are also some comprehensive woi'ks treating them 

 according to type and distribution. A general treatise, however, is 

 still needed from wdiich may be obtained a view of their distributiori 

 and varieties throughout the world. 



The missiles are projectiles driven by the lever powder of the arm 

 in contradistinction to those like the ax. hannner, sword, knife, and 

 lance, which depend upon the thrusting power of the arm and, with 

 few exceptions, are intended merely for operation in the immediate 

 vicinity. The most primitive })r<)jectiles were the stones and clubs 

 and from the Ijeginning the i)urpose has been to imj)rove these missiles 

 by giving them greater power of flight and surety of aim. This 

 has been attained by lengthening the arm artificially and strengthen- 

 ing the lever power, from which great distance resulted. This was 

 attained for the stone by means of the sling, and the club was made 

 more efficacious by changing the form, as with the throwing clubs 

 of the South Africans, the Eijians, and others; in the sickle-shaped 

 missiles, so that they became formidal)le as a projectile; in the boom- 

 erangs of the Australians, or in the sharpened, thimier shafts for 

 arrow or sj^ear. The arrow, in its turn, could be sent afar through 

 the principle of elasticity in the bow% an instrument encountered in 

 all parts of the world, and which has further developed into arbalests 

 and to firearms. Sling contrivances for the s])ear are found iur cer- 

 tain parts of the w^orld depending upon either the lengthening of 

 the arm, upon lever power, or that which serves to give the spear a 

 revolution upon its axis. Tliese contrivances were formerly quite 

 widely dispersed, but are now to be found only in certain widely sc[)a- 

 rated localities. They are divided into two classes: (1) Spear slings. 



1 Condensed trfuislntion of " SclileudorvoiTielitiinfjren fiir WurrwalTcii " in 

 TnttM-nalionalcs Arcliiv fiif 10tlin()^iM])lii('. Leiden, I'.aud XV. llfl't l\'. I'.tUL'. 

 ColortMl maps ."iceompany tlie original work. 



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