PRIMITIVE WEAPONS AND ARMOR OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS 57 



at the nock end is impelled forward impaling the animal when the 

 rattan cord holding the flexed spring is touched by the animal. 

 The term applied to the weapon in the Philippines is "belatic." 

 The term applied to it by the Sakai is "belantic," while a Malay 

 term for the same invention is " bclante." 



The many bird and fish traps that are in use by the Negritos and 

 Filipinos are primarily of basketry and fiber construction and need 

 not be referred to in this connection. They are ingenious devices 

 and quite effective, but are rather examples of the native skill in 

 weaving flexible materials and of the loomless handicrafts than of 

 weapon types. 



Galtraps. — A variety of other piercing weapons of the spear type 

 comes under the general head of caltraps. These weapons consist of 

 an oval or elliptic core usually formed from hardwood which has 

 inserted in it and projecting in all directions like the spines of a 

 cactus a number of hardwood spikes. Like the various other forms 

 of path splinters, the caltrap is placed in the runways of wild ani- 

 mals, also in the pathways frequented by men, concealed under leafy 

 foliage so as to penetrate the foot in such a manner that the injury 

 impedes the escape or progress of the passerby. Such weapons are 

 usually not more than several inches in length and have a diameter 

 of but 1 or 2 inches. The projecting spines range from 2 to several 

 inches in length. A large collection of caltraps was exhibited at 

 the Louisiana Purchase Exposition at St. Louis in 1904 by the 

 Philippine government board. 



BLOWGUN OR SUMPITAN 



Distribution and function. — The blowgun is primarily a forest 

 weapon. Its use against man or the larger beasts of prey is prac- 

 tically unknown. The reason for this is to be sought in the struc- 

 ture of the weapon and in the nature of its missiles. It is preemi- 

 nently an effective weapon against small birds or other small animals, 

 such as monkeys, where stealth and absolute silence are required to 

 make a shot effective. A native walking along a forest path can 

 detect from the traces left on the ground, such as fragments of nuts, 

 etc., the presence of game birds or monkeys high up in the tree tops. 

 A shot from the blowgun may become effective, the game bagged, and 

 the hunter ready for the next opportunity all in perfect silence. 

 This is possible, as the poisoned dart causes no outcry as would be 

 the case if some other missile were employed. 



The darts are always light and their range short. A pith or cotton 

 plug causes the dart to fit closely to the tube — a necessity, as the 

 missile depends for its expulsion from the tube on the sudden release 

 of compressed air from the mouth of the operator. 



