SLTNG CONTRIVANCES FOR PROJECTILE WEAPONS. 637 



small loops are tightly fastened. The second assists the rotation and 

 the center of gravity by means of a longer cord wound around the 

 spear, setting it in rotation when released. 



The first type, which is used in war as well as the chase, is in two 

 groups — (a) a throwing strap loosely attached to the spear; and {h) 

 a cord fastened to the spear. 



The first group is found in New Caledonia, New Hel)rides, and 

 New Zealand, with a variety in New Zealand and Hawaii." 



The projectile thong is a short cord braided from cocoa fiber or bat 

 hairs, which has at one end a loop and at the other a knot, and which 

 is called in New (Juinea " sipp '' (see pi. iv, fig. V.)). The spear 

 belonging to this, from 3 to 4 meters in length, has a hook back of the 

 center of gravity, finely carved from the shaft, and usually represent- 

 ing a man's head; the spear also is beautifully ornamented Avith 

 wrap])ings of hair and feather tufts. In use the loop is thrust over 

 the thumb '' or little finger,'' while the knot is placed l)ack of the hook 

 on the spear. In throw^ing, the spear, grasped by the left hand near 

 the point, draws the cord tightly toward the right. The releasing 

 is accomj^lished as with the ordinary spear except that the cord 

 assists the final rotation and the knot releases itself readily from the 

 knob, so that by this " the force of the throw is nnich increased."''' '^ 

 Forster (Vol. II, pp. 'i'20 and 304) suggests that the projectile thong, 

 after, the knot was fastened back of the knob, was wrapped around 

 the spear (see pi. iv, fig. 40), 



A subclass, which shows the com')inalion of the shaft and the pro- 

 jectile thong, occurs in New^ Zealand and Hawaii. Schurtz reports, 

 in Urgeschichte der Kultur, that a simple wooden spear fastened to 

 the snare with the aid of a stick was used in New Zealand, which 

 released at the proper instant when thrown. This Avas called " ko- 

 taha."" and the spear used in connection was called " kopere." 



The second grou}) shows a small leather loop fastened to the spear. 

 It appears in Togo, and in India. Numerous s])ears from Togo are 

 found in the Leipzig Museum, 1.8 meters in length, with lanceolate 

 iron point and a long iron spud. About '20 centimeters back of the 

 centei- of gravity there is a small leather loop about 4 centimeters in 

 length (see pi. iv, fig. 50). No literature on these spears is at hand 

 and about their use nothing is known. Egerton (Handbook of In- 

 dian Arms, p. 12, pi. 2, fig. 6; and p. 79, pi. 72, figs. 72 and 75) gives 

 numerous illustrations of spears from India which also have a loop 



<» New Caledonia : Forster, Waitz, Schurtz. New Hebrides : Meinicke, Eck- 

 hardt, Forster, Gray (Seine Notes on the Tannose. Intern. Arch., VII, p. 22,5 f.). 

 New Zealand: Bastian. New Zealand and Hawaii: Sdnu-tz. Doctor Arninsj. 



6 Waitz : Anthrop. der Natarv«)lker, VI. .197 et se<|. 



cEekhardt: Der Arcliiiiel der Neu-IIehriden. Verhandliiugen des Vereins for 

 naturw. UuterUaltimg zu Hamburg, 1877, Vol. IV, 



