488 MACHETECHNICS. 



provisions ; including forage, or grass, hay, and provender, for 

 horses. The arrangements of the Medical Department, so far as 

 relates to fixtures and supplies, may also be referred to this branch : 

 and the importance of these subjects, collectively, will doubtless 

 merit for them a distinct place, among the branches of Machetechnics. 



The first weapons used by mankind, for offence or defence, were 

 probably the simple club, and the stone ; which latter soon acquired 

 new force, by being hurled from the sling. Next to these, in anti- 

 quity, appear to have been the sword, of which the first mention is 

 found in the paternal prediction to Esau, (Gen. xxvii. 40); the bow 

 and arrows, first alluded to in Jacob's prediction concerning Joseph, 

 (Gen. xlix. 23-4) ; the spear, first referred to in the Lord's direction 

 to Joshua, (Josh. viii. 18) ; and the dart or javelin, used for hurling 

 at the foe ; of which the earliest mention is found in the record of 

 Absalom's death, (2 Sam. xviii. 14) ; though it was used at a much 

 earlier period. Battle axes, and scythes, were also used offensively 

 by the Persians ; the latter being sometimes attached to the axles 

 of their chariots, projecting on each side. In place of artillery, the 

 Greeks and Romans used the catapult, resembling a large crossbow, 

 for throwing arrows ; and the balista, or onager, consisting of one 

 or more levers, impelled by twisted ropes, for hurling stones ; spme- 

 times in battles, but chiefly in sieges. The scorpion, used by the 

 Romans, for throwing poisoned arrows, appears to have resembled 

 the catapult, in its construction. 



Defensive arms were generally used, in ancient times, for the im- 

 mediate protection of the body. Of these, the shield was the most 

 extensively used ; though of varied form and construction. The 

 Grecian shield was generally circular ; but the Roman buckler was 

 cylindrical, or nearly rectangular. The principal parts of a suit of 

 armor, were the helmet, or headpiece, sometimes made of leather, 

 but oftener of iron or brass ; with or without a visor, to cover the 

 face, excepting the eyes : and the breastplate, for protecting the 

 breast ; which, if it covered the back also, was called a hauberk, or 

 habergeon, the same as the modern cuirass: or, in place of these 

 last, a brigandine, or coat of mail, was sometimes worn, extending 

 downward over the whole body. Besides these most essential parts, 

 there were occasionally worn vambraces, for protecting the arms ; 

 gantlets, for the hands ; cuisses, (cnishes), or lasses, for the thighs; 

 greaves, for the legs ; and shoes, of tin or iron, were sometimes worn 

 upon the feet. Armor was sometimes made of small plates, overlap- 

 ping like scales, and constituting plate mail ; but sometimes it was 

 formed of small rings, linked together, and hence called chain mail. 

 The armor of the middle ages continued nearly the same as that of 

 the ancients : the lance being the favorite weapon of the knights ; 

 and the pike that of the common soldiers ; until after the introduction 

 of fire arms. 



The invention of gunpowder, has been attributed by some writers 

 to the Chinese, and by others, to Roger Bacon, about the year 1280 : 

 but the discovery of its use in gunnery, though assigned by some 

 authorities to Anelzen, (Anebren, or Antliz), belongs, we think, to 

 Bart hold Sclnvartz of Mayence, in 1320 ; and is said to have been 



