The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1891-07-31
POISONED ARROW POINTS. =
General Use of These Deadly Weapons

General Use of These Deadly Weapons
Among Ancient and Modern savages-
The use Of poisoned arrows is un,
doubtediy of very ancient origin said
DR.. w. J. Hoffman to a writer for the
Washington star. They are believed
to have been employed in Europe IN
prehistoric times and later on, accord
ing to Aristotle, Strabo and PltDy, the
Celts and Gauls envenomed their shafts
with the Juice of a plant of the genus
hellebore. The Scythians prepared ar
row poison by mixing serpent venom
with the serum of putrid blood ana
other instances are recorded IN classic
literature of people about the Black
sea and in Asia Minor who practiced
similar arts.
The Amos of Japan prepare poison
for spreading upon bamboo or metal ar
row points to kill game with, small
portion of flesh about the wound being
cut out before the animal is cooked and
eaten. In Java, Borneo, New Guinea
and other parts of the East India is
lands the same practice obtains to a
considerable extent The poisoning of
arrows prevails extensively in Africa,
particularly on the west coast, in the
Gaboon, among the SoTnah and with
Bushmen. BY the Bushmen the juice
of "A plant is used, mixed with the pulp
rs venomouS worm.
The best known and most active of
arrow poison is the woordra or 'urari
of South America. Ii is chiefly used
FOR the tips of darts blown from the
blowgun. and the most important in
grcdicut is the juice OF the plant from
which strychnine is obtained, to which
iS added certain other vegetable ele-
ments and serpent venom. In Central
America poisonS are also employed on
arrows and blovgun darts The Caribs
employed. similarly, n poison made
from the sap of a tree called the man
cenilles.' The antidote was the appG-
cation to the wound of what we know
of 'arrOwroot-'
The Seris of northwestern Mexico
prepared poison by putting into the
ground cows liver. rattlcsnalle,
scorpions. centipcdes and other unpleas-
ant things and beating them with
sticks. Into the mixture the arrow
points were dipped. The Apaches and
neighbOring tribes were until recently
in the habit of sInearing upon their ar
rows composition said to consist of de-
composed decr's liver and rattlesnakc
venom. In some instances crushed red
ants are also reported to have been
used. \ microscopic examination of
such coating upon arrows obtained
from the Apaches in 1871 showed the
presence of blood and crystalline sub
stance that was apparently. .rattleSnake
venom. The venom of serpents retains
its poisonous properties when dried in
definitely. One instance of poisoning
by such an arrow mentioned to me was
that of man whose wound was a mere
scratch on the shoulder blade, but
previous TO death, which ensued. the
flesh of the mans back fell off expos
ing the ribs and spine in several places.
The Shoshone and BannocB Indians
state that the proper way to poison ar
rows, as formerly practiced by them. is
to secure = deer and cause it to be bit
ten by a rattleSnakc. Immediately after
which the victim is killed, and the
ncaJ removed and placed IN a hole in
the ground. When the mass has become
putrid the arrow points are dipped into
Il. The Cl3llamS, Of Puget Sound, used
20 make arrow points of copper. which
were afterward dipped in sea water and
permitted to corrode. have never met |
an Indian who would admit the use of
poisoned arrows in warfare against !
man. In nearly all instances where |
poisons are prepared by Indians the
operation is performed with more or |
less ceremony. chanting and incartG-
tion. for the purpose of invoking evil |
spirits OF demons. In their belief the |
lffccts of poison are due wholly 20 the
presence in them of malevolcnt spirits
or demons. which enter the body OF the
victim and destroy life