316 Sir Ralph Paijne-Gallwey, Bart., [May 29, 



WEEKLY EVENING MEETING, 

 Friday, May 29, 1908. 



The Right Hon. The Duke of Noethumberland, K.G. P.O. 

 D.C.L. F.R.S., President, in the Chair. 



Sm Ralph Payne- Gall we y, Bart. 



Ancient and Medmval Projectile Weapons other than Firearms. 



Missile Spears. 



The first weapon of attack or defence employed by mankind, whether 

 for killing animals for food or in warfare with their fellow-lieings, was 

 doubtless a spear with a fire-hardened point. In the course of years 

 the primitive spear was, however, improved by the addition of a head 

 of sharp flint or metal. As animals became more wary and difficult 

 of approach, what may be termed the thrusting, or stabbing spear, 

 was in great measure superseded for one that could lie cast as a 

 missile. The survival of the thrusting spear is exemplified in the 

 lance, sword and bayonet of to-day, and the Zulu assegai is a good 

 example of the missile spear. 



For killing animals, a missile spear was, of course, the most 

 effective of the two kinds of weapon, for an animal could be struck 

 down with it when on the move, and at a distance of many paces from 

 the hunter, in positions, and at a range that would prevent his having 

 any chance of success with a long heavy spear that was only suitable 

 for thrusting with. It was but a natural transition that the missile 

 spear of the hunter should be applied to warfare. It is probable that 

 the missile spear could be cast from fifty to sixty yards at most. This 

 is about as far as the warriors or hunters of any savage tribes of these 

 days can cast spears by hand, if simple manual power is alone employed 

 to do so. 



There is no reason to suppose that the Zulus, for instance, show 

 more strength or dexterity in casting missile spears than their ancestors 

 were capable of thousands of years ago. 



In course of time certain nations, who were chiefly armed with 

 swords and spears, and who had more culture and ingenuity than 

 savages, devised methods for casting their light spears to a distance 

 that far exceeded what the power of the unaided arm could achieve. 

 That any improvement of this kind was of the utmost value needs no 

 explanation, as warriors or hunters armed with a weapon that could 



