BOOTAN. 
119 
being commodiously drawn from it over the left shoulder. The bow 
is held in the right hand; it is commonly six feet long, made of 
bamboo, and, when unstrung, is perfectly straight. The bowstring is a 
small cord of hemp of appropriate length; its tension, and the conse¬ 
quent curvature of the bow, depending upon the degree of twist given 
to it before the bow is bent. 
The kind of bamboo in use for bows, is peculiar to the hills, and is 
remarkable for its elasticity and strength; they are made of a split piece,, 
or two pieces united by bands together, the smooth surface being 
placed without. The string is drawn by the thumb, armed with a ring 
of bone, or a piece of thick leather, bent round it, and the forefinger, 
^crossed upon the nail, serves to give additional force to the operation. 
The arrow is formed of a species of dwarf bamboo, produced also 
among these mountains: it is headed by a flattened barb of pointed 
iron, the sides of which are sometimes grooved, or (which appears to 
answer the same purpose) the barb on either side is a little turned 
back, to admit the lodgment of poison; with which deadly substance, 
I was sorry to fiear, it is sometimes charged. 
The poison made use of, as far as I could collect, is an inspissated 
vegetable juice; but from what plant it is obtained, I could never dis- 
\ 
tinctly learn: it appeared to my observation black and gummy; in 
consistence and appearance, much resembling crude opium. 
Some Booteeas are armed with matchlock muskets, to the stock of 
which is attached a fork, which serves as a rest, when the warrior 
crouches to take his aim. Their fire-arms are very contemptible; 
evidently of no use, but in the fairest weather, when the match will 
