402 



WEAPONS. BOWS AND ARROWS. 



FIG. 153. 



Arrow-head. 



Europeans. Some few of them also break off bits of meteoric 

 iron, which they hammer to an edge, and then fix in a handle 

 of horn or bone. The arrow-heads are of several kinds 



and shapes. They are made not by blows, but 



by pressure, for which purpose they .use the point 



of a reindeer's horn, set in bone ; Fl - 154 - 



bone itself would not be tough 



enough. The shafts of the arrows 



are short, straightened by steam, 



and provided with feathers at the 



butt end. These are fastened on 



by deer sinews. The bows are 



generally of wood, either made 



of one piece steamed into the 

 right form, or of three parts most ingeni- 

 ously fastened together, and strengthened 

 by pieces of bone or sinew. When wood 

 cannot be obtained, they use bone or horn. 

 They do not appear to be particularly good 

 shots ; but Captain Parry * thinks that they 

 would generally hit a deer from forty to 

 forty-five yards, if the animal stood still, f 

 The spears are made like the arrows, but 

 are larger; the heads also are frequently 

 barbed, and in many cases fit loosely into 

 the shaft, but are securely fastened to a 

 long leathern thong, which is tied to the 

 butt end of the spear. For throwing the 

 harpoon they use' a short handle or throw- spear-head. 

 ing-stick, about two feet long, narrow below, four inches 



* Lc p. 511. In many other respects also their an- 



f The Esquimaux of Greenland have cient habits have been modified, and 



long abandoned the bow and arrow, their condition greatly improved, by 



using guns obtained from the Danes. this intercourse. 



