ORIGIN OF WEST AFRICAN CROSSBOWS BALFOUR. 647 



ing the theory of a European origin. The principal difference exist- 

 ing between the crossbows of the Goboon and of Norway, the two 

 extremes, lies in the fact of the Scandinavian examples having the 

 lower limb of the stock hinged to the upper (fig. 1) , while the Gaboon 

 type has the stock made in a single stave, split to form the two limbs 

 (figs. 3 and 4). This distinction is at the best a minor one, and is 

 due probably to the lowly cultured savage not comprehending readily 

 the structure of a hinge joint. In any case, this difference becomes 

 quite insignificant in the light of the Nigerian and Mandingo cross- 

 bows (figs. 2 and 6), which effectively link the two extremes together, 

 and in which we see a hinge joint of a simplified type, a loop replac- 

 ing the more complex tenon-and-rivet joint of the Norwegian whaling 

 crossbow. A significant piece of evidence, helping further to link the 

 latter with the Gaboon weapon, is to be noted in the Fan crossbow 

 represented in fig. 4 (and pi. 1 fig. lb). It will be noticed that just 

 at that point (figs. 4, a, and 5, a) where the end of the wooden hinge 

 rivet of a crossbow of the Norwegian type would be seen [cf. fig. 1], 

 an engraved circle appears. This is quite distinct from the rest of 

 the carved decoration, and may well be a " skeuomorphic " reminis- 

 cense of the hinge of the European prototype, which in this particular 

 it was impossible to imitate so as to form a practicable joint. Or, 

 and perhaps this is rather more probable, this circle may represent 

 the perforation in the upper limb of the stock, through which the 

 loop forming the hinge of a Nigerian crossbow is passed. In either 

 case this design seems to point to the Gaboon weapon having been 

 derived from a model of the hinged variety, and serves to link the 

 various local forms together. Viewed in the light of the other cor- 

 respondencies, this decorative feature acquires a phylogenetic value 

 of considerable interest. 



The European origin of West African crossbows, notably those of 

 the Gaboon district, is further exemplified in the form of the bow 

 itself, which is clearly modeled upon the rectangular- sectioned steel 

 bows of the European type, and differs completely from any native 

 long bows. Here there is a departure from the crude Scandinavian 

 type, but it seems very possible that the simple method of release 

 which still survives in the clumsy Norse weapon may also have been 

 applied to better-class weapons fitted with steel bows. Indeed, an 

 examination of the form of crossbow represented upon the Benin 

 bronze plaque in the British Museum (fig. 7, a and b) affords most 

 suggestive corroboration of this view. The bow there shown is 

 evidently of steel, and is of the " Cupid's-bow " form. The stock is 

 evidently in two parts, with a movable lower limb recalling the struc- 

 ture of the Norwegian stock (fig 7, b). The lower limb as repre- 

 sented is, however, decidedly shorter than the upper, and it may be 

 urged that we have here merely a clumsy representation of the long 



