BORANA WEAPONS 



owing to the bark they employ for tanning, and con- 

 taining a miscellaneous collection of small articles. In 

 the one I examined were the following objects : — 



1. Tip of an ox-horn, hollowed out and containing a small 



piece of coloured trading cloth — probably a charm. 



2. A small lump of hard black gum, said to be poison for 



their arrows, obtained at Moyale. 



3. A few feathers. 



4. Some fibre and gut for mending bow or arrow. 



5. Two long rusty nails. 



6. Two fire-sticks (attached outside). 



The quiver itself was a hollow wooden tube, ex- 

 panding symmetrically from the middle to either end, 

 with a cap of ox-hide shrunk on to one extremity, and 

 impressed with a simple linear pattern. The middle 

 was wrapped round with a broad piece of tanned 

 goatskin fastened securely by two thongs. To it 

 was attached a band for carrying, and a rough sheath 

 for a slender knife. In the quiver were two un- 

 finished and four finished arrows complete with loose 

 iron heads thickly smeared with poison. I did not 

 see any shields. The Borana use their weak bow 

 with great skill ; moreover, they keep innumerable 

 native dogs for hunting purposes, and it is remarkable 

 how quickly these animals will bring an antelope 

 down or hold a large beast at bay until their masters 

 can dispatch it. 



Their household utensils are few in number, and 

 in many respects resemble those used by the Somali. 

 One of the most striking is the "han," or water 

 vessel, which is ovoid in shape, and constructed of 

 tightly woven fibre with a deep and neatly fitting cap. 

 The inside is well smoked, and the outside is usually 

 decorated with rows of cowrie shells strung on fibre. 



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