1812. 
ARMS OF THE BUSHMEN. 
199 
wood, as the materials vary according to the country in which the 
kraal resides : that from which the figure was taken, was of the wood 
of a species of Tarchonanthus from the Transgariepine. The karree- 
tree [Rhus viminale) is most generally used for this purpose. The 
quiver is usually made of some thick hide, as of the ox, or the kanna ; 
but the natives more towards the western coast, frequently use the 
branches of the Aloe dichotoma, which is therefore called by the 
Hottentots and Colonists, kokerboom or quiver-tree. The hassagay is 
not made by themselves : these weapons are either purchased from 
the Caffres, or derived from the Bichuanas by means of barter from 
one kraal to another. 
The arrow is so purely a Bushman manufacture, that the sur- 
rounding tribes, often procure them from this nation, as being better 
arrow-makers than themselves : and I much doubt whether in fact these 
weapons are ever made by the Bachapins. The shaft is made from 
the common African reed, and at each end is neatly bound round with 
sinew, to prevent splitting. The head consists principally of a long 
piece of bone cut very smoothly to fit exactly into the reed, so as to 
remain fast without being absolutely fixed. The length of the whole 
arrow is generally between eighteen and twenty-two inches. At the 
end of this chapter may be seen, of their natural size, the figures of 
arrow-heads of various forms. They are tipped with a thin triangular 
piece of iron made exceedingly sharp at the edges. Immediately 
below this, is a thick coating of the gummy poisonous compound, 
already described * ; and in this poison, is placed a barb made from 
a piece of quill. The whole of the head is separate from the shaft, 
and is made merely to fit into it ; so that neither man, nor animal, can 
draw it out of the wound by means of the reed, Avhich in the flight, may 
drop off, while the head will still be left buried in the flesh. Some- 
times the head consists only of the bone, without the piece of iron, 
and it is then made very sharp and slender, and is also covered with 
the poison : when the arrows of this form are not immediately wanted, 
* In the first volume at page 539. 
