112 



NATURE S TEACHINGS. 



A turnpike gate when closed would be a repagulum, and so 

 would a chevaux-de-frise. 



TEARING WEAPONS. 



WE have already had examples of weapons, like the Club, 

 which bruise ; of weapons, like the Spear and Dagger, which 

 pierce ; and of weapons, like the Sword, which cut. We now 

 come to a totally distinct set of weapons, those which wound 

 by tearing, and not by any of the preceding modes. 



In civilised warfare we have long abandoned such weapons, 

 as belonging to a barbarous age, but they are even yet em- 

 ployed in some parts of the world. 



The accompanying illustration shows three examples of such 

 weapons. One is the celebrated Tiger-claw of India, known 

 by the native name of Wag-nuk. It is about two inches and a 

 half in length, and is made to fit on the hand. The first and 

 fourth fingers are passed through the rings, and the curved 

 claws are then within the hand, and hidden by the fingers. 

 The mode of employing this treacherous weapon was by 



WAG-NUK OK INDIA. 



HIND-CLAWS OF TIGER 



CLAWED GAUNTLET. 

 SIIABK-TOOTH GAUNTLET. 



engaging a foe in conversation, pretending to be very friendly, 

 and then ripping up his stomach with an upward blow of the 

 right hand. 



