()34 SLTNG CONTRIVANCES FOR PROJECTILE WEAPONS. 



has close to the grip a hook of wood, stone (Chil)cha), or bone 

 (Quito), at an angle of 90 degrees. Near the upper end the shaft 

 broadens into a small disk handle (see pi. iv, fig. 39) ; in using, the 

 right hand grasps this disk, and the forefinger the side liook there 

 found, the spear, as usual, being set against the upper hook. These 

 are abundant in collections," a number being in the LeijDzig Museum, 

 showing that at one time the spear sling was widely dispersed 

 and much used (see pi. iv, fig. 10). The typical form of this hook 

 is a small straight base with a fluke joined to it by means of a 

 slanting neck seldom running directly upright. The Avhole was fas- 

 tened to the end of the shaft l).y lashing in twine. Besides these 

 plain examples, still others more decorated occur, many having 

 bird forms, for example the hook of the arrow slings of the Ozonanes, 

 now in Rome (see pi. iv, fig. 41). In the areas of these hooks there 

 is a means of deciding the former distribution of spear slings. Some 

 were found in Colombia, in Boyoca, and in Chile, on the borders of 

 Ecuador; in Ecuador, in Culpi on the Riobamba, and in Azognes. 

 It is from this area that Reiss brought the similar half-modern 

 example from guano on the Riobamba. This ancient pattern seems 

 to be that found in Quito, now in Rome.'' 



The third type is the Brazilian. It is still used in the chase, in 

 tortoise-catching, and in war '' among tlie peoples of the JMagda- 

 lena and xlmazon river district: (1) By the Tecunas, Cocamas, Com- 

 bos, Campevas, Sorimoes; {'2) by the Cauca and Patyagora stocks, 

 and the Baez; (3) by the Canamaris, Purupurus, Paumari. It is 

 still in use among the peoples of the upper Xingu and Araguaya ; 

 and (4) by the Aueto, Kamayura, Trumai, Suya, Karaj^a. 



The spear slings of these four groups are of the male type, w ith a 

 hole or pocket for the forefinger in the center of the under side. The 

 first group shows quite a broad, thick shaft, flat above and arched 

 below. It broadens perceptibly in the middle, and there is a good 

 grip for the hand. On the under side of the middle is a rectangular 

 cavity for the forefinger. A hook is attached to the upper side of 

 the outer end (see pi. iv, fig. 42). This type was in use for tortoise 

 harpoons,^' among the Tecunas,'' Cocamas,^ and Conibos.'^ Perhaps 

 the type of the Campevas or Omaguas and Sorimoes (in Teffe-Ega ■"). 

 Stolpe ^ reports of these that their si)ear slings had a finger cavity. 

 Spix and Martius ^ report that this type was similar to that of the 



"IJlilo: Intern. Arcli., I, i.. 209. 

 6 Stolpe: Intern. Arch., Ill, pp. 234-238. 



c Karl V. d. Steinen : Unter den Naturvolkorn Centralhrasiliens : riiU': Mitlli. 

 Wiener Anthrop. Gesell.. XVII, after Oviedo. 



(2 Bastian : Verhaiidlungen der Berliner Anthrop. Gesellsehaft, ISS^. ji. 2(».".. 

 f V. Spi.v nnd Martius: Keise in Brasilion. is:n. 111, pp. lo24. 11S7, 1i;>:'.. 

 f Examples discovered, now in Berlin. See (iicnre. 

 i/ Mason; Smithsonian report, pt. 2. ISS4, p. 27'.). 



