THE BLOW-GUN 



By ALFRED M. MAYKR 



IN studying the development of the modern gun and rifle,* it is 

 very interesting to see how nearly all the parts and functions of 

 these arms are foreshadowed in the blow-gun, a weapon admi- 

 rably adapted to the needs of the hunter in the country where it is 

 employed. This arm, like many other weapons used by savages, is 

 found in use among tribes of different races inhabiting countries far 

 removed from one another. The blow-gun is the sporting-arm of 

 the Dyaks of Borneo, and of the Indians inhabiting South America 

 between the Amazon and the Orinoco rivers. It was also used by 

 the Choctaws of the lower Mississippi. Bossu, in his "Travels in 

 Louisiana, 1756," says: "They (the Choctaws) are very expert in 

 shooting with an instrument made of reeds about seven feet long, 

 into which they put a little arrow feathered with the wool of a 

 thistle ; and in aiming at an object they blow into the tube, and 

 often hit the aim, and frequently kill little birds with it." 



The four different types of blow-guns used by savages are alike 

 in general form and method of use. I will give an account of the 

 blow-gun used by the Macoushies of Guiana, and called by them the 

 ftncuua. These Indians are the most expert of all the savages in tin- 

 manufacture of the blow-gun. They also have the secret of the 

 preparation of the death-dealing wourali poison with which their 

 blow-gun arrows are tipped. A neighboring tribe, called Warns, are 

 the best canoe- makers, and they exchange canoes and paddles for 

 the blow-guns and wourali of the Macoushi< 3. 



The Macoushie blow-gun is made of two reeds, one within the 

 other. The inner reed is called the oura/i, and it is the use of this 



• Sec "The Shot-Gun," in this volume. 



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