Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1892-06-08
Indian Blow-Guns.

Amazon and of Guiana, in Guiana,
in South America, and among the
Dyaks of Borneo. Of that used in
South America, there are two lead
ing varieties. The first of them is
termed the Zarabatana, or gravatana
and is found throughout very
large tract of country southwark
of Guiana, when it takes a some
what modified and improved form.
The zarabatana is exceedingly
heavy, and requires not only a
strong, but practised arm to hold
it steady. A far superior weapon,
called the pucuna, or gravatana,
larger, lighter and more easily
handled, is made by the natives of
Guiana; that used by the Macoushie
tribe being the best.
The essential portion of the blow
gun is the ourah. This is,a singu-
lar reed, which grows on the ridge
of the Upper Orinoco. Like the
bamboo, it grows in clusters, and
though not exceeding half an inch
in diameter, the first fourteen or
sixteen feet are without a knot.
The portion used for the blow-pipe
is the first joint, which is uniform
in diameter throughout, and is nat
urally polished within. One end is
chosen to serve as mouth-piece,
and is bound with string made of
silk-grass; and the other is tipped
with the half of the acuero nut,
which is very hard, and prevents the
end of the weapon from being in
jured by accidental blows against a
tree or the ground. This acuero
seed acts as foresight by which
the native hunter can direct his
weapon.
Such a weapon as this is exceed
ingly light and easy to handle. 1t
is held in rather curious manner.
The left hand is turned with the
palm upward, and the elbow against
the hip. The hand then grasps the
blow-gun with a hand's-breath of
the mouth-piece, and the right hand
seizes it, palm downward, in the
space left by the other hand. The
blow-pipe is then raised, not by the
arms, but by bending back the body;
and it is astonishing to see how
steady it can be held for length
ened time-a steadiness which can
never be gained if it be held by
stretching out the right arm and
grasping it at some distance from
the mouth.
The shaft of the arrow is made
of the leaf-ribs of the coucourite
palm, specie of areca. 1t is about
ten inches in length, no thicker
than crow-quill, and at one end is
brought to point as sharp as a
needle by scraping it between the
teeth of the pirai-fsh.
When properly made and mount
ed, these arrows can be propelled
with wonderful force. The force
comes entirely from the lungs, the
cheeks having nothing to do with
it. When an arrow is rightly pro-
PEELED, it flies from the tube with a
slight pop, like that which is pro-
duced by quickly drawing the cork
of small bottle. It is quite invis-
ible for some little time, so rapid is
the motion; and even when fitted
with white instead Of yellow cotton,
the eye can scarcely follow it's
course.
Such an instrument as this is
simply invaluable for the purposes
to which it is devoted. 1t is intend
ed to be used almost exclusively for
killing birds and small monkeys,
both of which creatures live. on
trees. Now, as the trees of Guiana
run to an enormous height, some
of them attain at least a hundred
feet before they throw out branch,
it will be seen that the birds are be-
yond the reach of shot-guns. The
pucuna can throw an arrow higher
then gun can propel a shot, and if
the needle-like point enters any
part of the bird, the effect is fatal.
There is another advantage which
the pucuna possesses over firearms.
The report Of the gun frightens
away every bird within sound,
whereas the pucuna is practically
noiseless. The slight pop with
which the arrow is expelled does
not alarm the birds, and an expert
hunter can kill twenty or thirty
birds from one tree without alarm
ing the others.
Just before the arrow is put into
the blow-gun, the hunter places it
between two of the pirai-teeth al
ready mentioned, and turns it round
between his fingers. He thus cuts