ORIGIN OF WEST AFRICAN CROSSBOWS BALFOUR. 645 



owners largely depends. In former times, no doubt, it was far more 

 widely dispersed, but, having been gradually given up or superseded 

 by improved weapons, it is now reduced to a state of struggling sur- 

 vival in its last home, whence, too, it will finally disappear ere long. 

 The district in question is the southern portion of Store Sartor, a 

 large island adjacent to the port of Bergen. 1 The island is deeply 

 cut into by three narrow fjords, Ostfjordspollen, Tellevaag, and 

 Skogsvaag. These fjords are visited periodically by whales, espe- 

 cially by the Lesser Rorqual, Balmnoytera rostrata, the " Vaagehval " 

 of the Norwegians. The capture of these cetaceans is a matter of 

 considerable concern to the inhabitants. For the details concerning 

 this local whale fishery I must refer readers to Dr. Brunchorst's 

 interesting paper. Suffice it to say that when one or more whales 

 have entered the fjord their retreat is cut off by a net drawn across 

 the narrowest part, and they are then killed from boats by means of 

 the extremely crude and barbaric crossbow which I will now describe 

 (pi. 1, fig. 2). Several years ago I procured one of these whaling 

 crossbows through a friend in Bergen, and lately a second example 

 has been sent to me by Dr. C. G. Seligmann, who obtained it from Dr. 

 Brunchorst. The construction is as follows: The bow (pi. 2, &and b) 

 is of large size and very stout, roughly hewn out of yew (Taxus 

 baccata) procured from the Hardanger; it tapers somewhat toward 

 the ends, which are " shouldered " for the bowstring. The latter is 

 thick and of tanned hemp, in strands loosely twisted into a cord 

 which is " served " at the center to protect it from friction against 

 the stock. The stock (pi. 1, fig. 1 c, and fig. 1) is of ash, and consists 

 of an upper and a lower limb. The upper limb, or stock proper, is 

 deep at the front end and terminates in two projections forming a fork 

 in which the bow lies. Close behind the fork is a rectangular perfora- 

 tion, and further back its lower edge is cut suddenly away to form 

 a sloping shoulder. From this point the limb tapers gradually away 

 to its hinder extremity. A short distance behind the shoulder a short, 

 flat bar of wood is set transversely through the stock, its ends pro- 

 jecting on either side. A little behind this the stock is perforated in 

 a vertical direction, and is notched to receive the bowstring when the 

 bow is drawn or set. To this upper limb, or main portion of the 

 stock, is attached the lower limb, which is shorter and butts up against 

 the shoulder to which it is hinged by means of a tenon and wooden 

 pin or rivet. This limb also tapers toward its hinder extremity. A 

 stout wooden peg fitting loosely in the vertical hole in the upper 

 limb is driven into the lower limb, to which it is firmly fixed. The 

 hinge joint uniting the limbs enables their free ends to be separated 



1 An interesting illustrated paper upon the construction and use of this crossbow, 

 " Hvalfangst med bue og pil," written by Dr. J. Brunchorst, appeared in Naturen, 

 issued by the Bergen Museum, 1899, pp. 138-154. I have borrowed from this account 

 many of the details here referred to. 



