one end of the tube, the arrow is dropped in 

 at the other end, and falls to the cotton ; the 

 lips are then applied, and the arrow is forced 

 forward by a fudden puff, or coup of the breath, 

 and is thus {hot to the diftance of eight or ten, 

 yards with furprizing accuracy. So expert 

 are fome of the Bucks in the ufe of this tube ? 

 that at twelve or fourteen feet, they will almoft 

 to a certainty ftrike the arrow upon the edge 

 of a penknife ftuck on the back of a chair. 

 The tube is made of a fpecies of reed, and 

 they are very careful in preferving it. Indeed 

 from the difficulty of finding the reed perfectly 

 ftraight, a good tube becomes highly valuable 

 to them, and its value is further enhanced by 

 a fuperftition which prevails among them re- 

 garding the cutting of the reed. It commonly 

 grows in wet places, or wide ftagnant marfhess 

 and fuperftition has ftationed an evil fpirit to 

 defend it, whence the Indians have the appre- 

 henfion that fome ill mud befall him who 

 ventures in to cut the reed. This vyeaknefs 

 has probably originated from fome of them 

 having been injured by alligators or ferpents 

 — evil-beings which commonly inhabit fuch- 

 like places. 



