ARMS. 247 



of the collection a lengthwise strip of the bark is retained, sometimes (N os . 1227 and 1228) 

 carved into a décorative snake figure (see also SCHMELTZ [1904, 220, fig. 1]). It is exclusively 

 this side, turned towards the archer, which is provided (especially the upper half in Hum- 

 boldt Bay) with carved ornaments, in the style of the illustrations given by De CLERCQ and 

 Schmeltz [1893, PI. XXXI, fig. 16] and Parkinson [1900, PL XXI, figs. 39 and 40]. The 

 latter places them upside down ; according to PREUSS [1899, 175] the eye and nose ornament 

 are pre-eminent. I hâve nowhere seen a strengthening of weak or cracked bows with a lath 

 tied alongside, as described by SCHMELTZ [1S95, 238; 1904, 209, fig. 15]. It does not appear 

 probable, that such a strengthening would be the object of the plaiting of reeds or rattan, 

 because it occurs almost exclusively on the upper half of the bow and evidently as an 

 ornament, just as the carved ornaments (which decrease the strength !), the suspended feathers 

 and the ornamental Coix seeds and cord fringe, are also exclusively applied to this extremity. 

 The bows of Lake S'entâni and more western parts do not possess the excessive décoration 

 of some H. B. bows, nevertheless with ail of them at least one small plaited band occurs 

 at both ends, which must support the rattan rings, preventing the loops of the bowstring 

 from shifting (SCHMELTZ [1896, PI. IX, figs. 2 and 2 a}). 



Strictly speaking, ail the bows are slightly asymmetrical, which neither 

 PARKIXSOX nor ERDVv'EG report of the Berlin Harbour district, but which did not entirely escape 

 the notice of SCHMELTZ (DE CLERCQ and SCHMELTZ [1893, 232]). The lower half is always 

 somewhat thicker and heavier than the upper one, and besides of both the conical points, as far 

 as they reach outside the bowstring, the lower is shorter and thicker than the slender upper 

 one. The centre of gravity is therefore always somewhat below the middle of the bow and 

 closer to the lower than to the upper end of thé string. N°. 1229 has half-way its length, 

 three small, plaited, rattan bands to facilitate the grasp of the left hand. Plaited work along 

 the whole length of the bow (De CLERCQ and SCHMELTZ [1893, N°. 609, PI. XXX, fig. 9]), 

 I hâve never seen. 



Bowstrings of bamboo(r), as described by BlRO [1901, 116] of Astrolabe Bay, of Br. N.G. 

 by THOMSON [1892, 118] and MACGREGOR [1897, 59], also those of twisted bark fibres of the 

 Tugeri(r) (PRATT [1906, 46]), the Numfor (Van HASSELï [1886, 579]) and in the extrême 

 west (De CLERCQ and SCHMELTZ [1893, 137 — 140J), do not occur in the collection; it only 

 contains bowstrings made of a rattan strip, plaited at both ends into a loop in the way 

 illustrated by De CLERCQ [1. c, PL XXXI, figs. 7 and 16] and ERDWEG [1902, 324, fig. 224], 

 by SCHMELTZ [1S96, 119, PL IX, figs. 12 and 13] of Astrolabe Bay and of the Tugeri 

 [1904, 207]; they are always turned with the smooth outside surface towards the bowman. 



To string the bow, the lower loop is pushed beforehand over the lower point as far 

 as the rattan ring, and then, as also described by ERDWEG [1902,324] of Tumleo, and shown 

 on fig. 154, the lower point supported on the ground, one of the knees placed against the 

 middle of the bow, and whilst the left hand seizes the upper part of the bow, bending it 

 towards the bowman, the right hand places the upper loop of the string over the top. It 

 is necessary to take care that the lower point is not touching a stone or any other hard 

 object, as (notwithstanding its being stronger than the upper point) it might break ofT. On 

 board the boats the bow is bent between the carrying laths of the outriggers (MoSELY 

 [1879, 443]). 



