202 A NATUBALIST IN CELEBES ch. viii 



small fish disporting themselves, on the chance that some 

 of them may be wedged in between the pieces of wood 

 or pierced by them. At best it is not a very effective 

 weapon. 



The Sangirese also fish with the hook and line in water 

 as deep as two hundred fathoms. The line is made of 

 twisted gumutu from the arenga palm, and for bait they 

 use pieces of pork and chicken. The fish they catch by this 

 means are often very large. I have seen some in the hands 

 of Sangirese fishermen that must have weighed as much as 

 fifteen or twenty (English) pounds (14). 



I am not able to give a complete account of the weapons 

 used by the Sangirese, for when the Eesident of Manado is 

 in the neighbourhood the natives keep their fighting imple- 

 ments in the background. 



The most important weapon, however, both for fighting 

 and hunting, seems to have been and to be the spear. As 

 it is impossible to obtain iron, or indeed any other form 

 of metal, in their own country, those who can afford it 

 are obliged to buy or steal iron-pointed spears from other 

 islands, but the majority of the people are contented with 

 the wooden spears mentioned above (see fig. 21). 



Bows and arrows are not seriously employed by any 

 of the Malays. In some parts of Minahassa (22) bows and 

 arrows are used as a game for children, and this may be 

 also the use of similar weapons that have been brought 

 from Talaut (10). 



In some parts of Sumatra the Malays use the bow and 

 arrow for killing small game and fish, and for shooting 

 fire-balls at the gods of sickness (48), but I have not yet 

 come across an account of any people, undoubtedly belong* 

 ing to the Malay race, who use them as their principal 

 weapons in battle, as the Papuans do. 



Iron swords are possessed in Sangir by those who can 



