52 BULLETIN 137, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



spearheads from Fiji. Some of these are ornamental and resemble 

 six diminishing ears of corn with a round final point. Others have 

 sets of barbs in decreasing series also crowned with a finial point. 

 Such spearheads resemble those made by the Melanesian peoples of 

 the island archipelagos off the coast of New Guinea. It seems that, 

 generally speaking, Melanesian influence was cast off by the southern 

 island tribes in the Philippines together with the substitution of 

 metal for the older types of wood and bamboo weapon forms. The 

 presence of a wooden or bamboo spearhead on a weapon the shaft of 

 which is a blowgun is much more rare in the Philippine Islands than 

 among the Malaysian peoples on the south and west. The trident 

 spearheads and the iron spear points in general use on the island of 

 Timor resemble those of the Philippines. 



Although all piercing weapons possess a point, there is gi'eat 

 variety in the material of which the point is made, in its connection 

 with the shaft, in the use of barbs, and, in the case of spears designed 

 to be thrown, in the appliances for discharging. The greater the 

 amount of effort spent in the shaping and finishing of the weapon, 

 the greater the reluctance that it is parted with. Among the more 

 primitive tribes of the world the spear is usually missile, consisting 

 of a straight wooden pole running to a point hardened by fire, as 

 among the tribes of New Guinea. In the Philippine Islands the 

 spear is rarely missile and the spear thrower is unknown. Use of a 

 spear as a harpoon in hunting is quite prevalent. Such spears are 

 tanged rather than socketed. A lanyard is attached to the shaft and 

 to the middle of the head, thus forming a toggle harpoon. Such a 

 weapon is serviceable for use in the hunting of wild pig and is used 

 by different Malayan tribes as well as by the Negrito in the form of 

 a composite arrow and for the same purpose. 



CATALOGUE OF TYPE SPECIMENS 



Pike head^ Moro. — The blade and socket are of cast brass. The 

 lance head blade and guard prongs consist of one piece and are 

 jointed to the socket by means of a metal tang that has been in- 

 serted into the socket for a space of 3 centimeters. The blade, guard, 

 and socket are symmetrical and are etched throughout their en- 

 tire surface with ornamental designs consisting of a continuous 

 floral pattern on blade. The blade has slightly convex edges and a 

 median ridge elevation from which the lateral surfaces slope to the 

 two cutting edges. The guard consists of two bird figures support- 

 ing the blade ; tail feathers constitute the guard prongs and a small 

 pedestal base forming the socket. The socket has an ornamental 

 pattern consisting of etched incised lines arranged in form of 

 parallelograms and circles. The socket is cast with an octagonal 

 surface. 



