RADACK AND OTHER ISLANDS. I7I 



group with combined force, and land. Tiiey never 

 fight but on shore. The women take a share in 

 tlie war, not only to defend their own country 

 against the enemy, but also to attack ; and in the 

 squadron they form, tliough in smaller numbers, a 

 part of the mihtary force. The men stand fore- 

 most in the battle. Their weapons for distant 

 combat are the sling, in the use of which they are 

 not skilful, and a staff, pointed at both ends, which 

 being thrown in the arc of a circle, turns round 

 upon its centre, like the diameter of a wheel in 

 motion, and penetrates with the end on which it 

 falls. For close combat the dart, a stick of five 

 feet in length, which is pointed, and furnished with 

 shark's teeth or barbs. We saw only at Mesid a 

 short crooked wooden sword, both sides of which 

 were provided with shark's teeth. The women, 

 unarmed, form a second line : some of them beat 

 the drum, according to the word of command, 

 first in slow and regular time (Rmgesiplnem), 

 when the combatants, at a distance, exchange dart 

 for dart, then in double quick time {Pinneneme)^ 

 when they are engaged in close combat. The 

 women throw stones merely with the hand : they 

 assist their lovers in the contest, and throw them- 

 selves as deliverers and peace-makers between 

 them and the vanquished enemy. The female 

 prisoners are well treated : men are not made pri- 

 soners. The man adoj)ts the name of the enemy 



