46 RAMBLES OF A NATURALIST. 



not be found amongst this class of animals. Here 

 are those curved blades whose point presents a 

 double and prolonged cutting surface, sometimes 

 on the concave edge, as in the yatagan of the Arabs, 

 sometimes on the convex border, as in the Oriental 

 scimitar. Next we meet with weapons of offence 

 and defence which remind us of the broadsword of 

 our cuirassiers, the sabre-poignard of the artillery- 

 man, and the sabre-baionnette of the Vincennes 

 chasseur. Then again we have harpoons, fish-hooks, 

 and cutting-blades of every form, loosely attached to 

 the extremity of a sharp handle. These rnoveable 

 pieces are intended to remain in the body of the 

 enemy, whilst the handle which supported them 

 becomes a long spike as sharp as it was before. 

 Here we have straight or curved poignards, cutting 

 hooks, arrows, with the barbs curved backwards in 

 order the better to tear the wound, but carefully 

 provided with a sheath to protect the fine indenta- 

 tions from being blunted by friction or broken by 

 any unforeseen shock. Finally, if the enemy should 

 disregard his first wounds and the weapons which 

 have struck him from afar, there darts from every 

 foot a shorter but stronger spear, which is brought 

 into play by a special set of muscles as soon as the 

 combatants are sufficiently near to grapple in close 

 fight. 



It is not without reason that nature has endowed 

 these amazons with more finely polished and sharply 

 pointed weapons than any wielded by paladins of 

 old. Destined to live by rapine, and exposed to the 

 attacks of a thousand enemies, they need them both 



