The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1893-01-07
Hurting the Jereed.
charles E. Clay. in New York Herald.

fare. It's use as well rs It's coHSiuOilNt
evolution can be traced ON every page o.
the worlds history. During the chilhooC
of the human race, when man roamed the
virgin forests dependent very largely fol
daily support upon his bow and spear, i
was natural that he should turn to the tai
and lithesome saplings around him. II
was easy to break into convenient lengths
the tough young shafts of ash and elm, o.
baboul and teak. Attrition in the groove
of some adjacent rock first gave the point
Ingenuity was not long in discovering thai
the action of fire toughened and hardened
the point and the iavelin of the early
hunter and warrior was subjected to the
smouldering ashes of the forest camp fire
The charred and hardened point to the
javelin was superseded by head of stone
jaspar, agate and flint being most generally
used for this purpose. This extra weight
at one end had to be counterbalanced by
weighing the butt Rings of heavy stone
were driven on the after end, and the hand
soon learned to balance the weapon in
equipoise. The momentum given to the
iavelin by this extra weight greatly in
creased its penetrating qualities, and it thus
becomes stil more popular adjunct to
the arms of the soldier of early days.
Later ON the notifications of the iavelin
assumed two distinct types The javelin
propelled from the bowstring became shorter
and lighter and took to itself a separate
Identification as the arrow. The original
prototype gradually elongated its shape,
kept much of its weight and stOutness and
with but slight changes remained the jave-
lin or jereed used by the Turks and Per
slams today, the assagai of the Kaffirs and
Zulus, and the throwing spear OF the hill
men of India and Thihct.
Long after the introduction of firearms
the iavelin continued to be a favorite weap-
on with the Persians, aud they, equal with
the Kaffirs and Zulus of today, share the
honor of being universally admitted as the
most expert opponents of the art of using
the iavelin as destructive missile in war
and the more peaceful pursuits of the
chase. The Persians, being par excellence
a nation of horsemen, it is not surprising
that they prefer to employ the javelin as a
missile to be used from the saddle The
adroitness they display in handling the
iereed while in full career and the accuracy
of their aim with the flying shaft thrill the
heart of the traveller today.
In modern times the javelin has come
again into prominent notoriety as most
formidable weapon Of destruction by the
recent massacres of British troops by its
instrumentality in Zululand and at the
| Cape. The assagai of the Kaffir and IulG
is most graceful weapon. The shaft is
of species of bamboo cane, the wood be-
ing tough, light and remarkably plant.
The bush shoots up in large clumps, and
each limb comes directly from the dubious
root. The sticks grow in even joints and
nearly solid, only slight cavity running
from joint to joint. 1t is impossible to
break the cane in half 1t can be tied into
an actual knot by the exercise of consid-
cradle force, of course, and when united
will rebound into its usual straight condi-
ton. TO the lighter end is fitted a broad,
fiat, two edged spear head, about three and
one-half inches across at the thickest and
broadcast part. \ slight ridge runs from
socket to point along both faces of the
steel, which tapers to the edges, forming
/ four slightly convex faces. The point is
of marvellous delicacy and temper; the
blades are keener and more exquisitely
hardened than the finest razor, and the spear
shaft is fitted into the socket with frmness
and neatness that defy imitation by the Flu
ropean The butt of the shaft has the last
Joint opened and lead is poured in until the
spear is balanced to nicely. So exact are
these savages in this equipoise that the test
of spears balance is made by driving an
assagai butt end into the ground and bal
ancing the weapon to be tested on the
needle pointed blade And this not at the
center of the spear as found by shifting it
backward and forward until theequilibrium
is reached, but adjusted at the place where
the hand is to grasp it in hurting. The
length of the whole weapon is anywhere
from 4 feet inches to feet, according to
the fancy of the user, but the longer kind
is very rarely met with in hands of Zulu,
except on state or gala occasions, and then
it is used after the manner of pastoral
staff or alpine stock.
The hunting assagai is of slighter build
than that used in war, but with such skill
and power can they be hurled that the
writer has seen springbok pierced COM
pletely through by hunting assagai while
running at full speed. 1t will be readily
understood that these javelins, being gen
orally in use in heavy underground and
Jungle. are constantly lost, so that the
hunter has to be constantly replenishing
his stock But the Zuius are wonderfully
expert and rapid in assagai making and in
their huts keep on hand hundreds of shafts
and heads; the former gathered by the
youngsters, the latter supplied by the Boer
and European trader albeit in a crude state.
In war as in chase the Zulu of Kaffir
generally carries with him from 30 to 100
rounds of assagais. These he hurls while
running at topmost speed, and with ce-
lerity, strength and correctness of aim that
astonish the uninitiated In battle, when
the first great rush is to be made, the whole
impie or regiment, upward of 1900 strong
very often, extend in open order formation,
and each warrior takes as many assagais as
he can conveniently carry in his left hand;
on which is strapped his elliptical shield
of tough bulls hide In his right hand
he poises the first missile, generally pet
and trusted one. The arm is allowed to
hang at full length, the palm Of the hand
facing outward, the knuckles touching the
right thigh almost; the weight of the body is
on the right foot; the left leg and shoulder
are thrown well forward.
The javelin lies in the first and second
joints Of the fingers The point of the
weapon is pointed upward at an angle of
thirty to forty degrees from the ground,
the butt trailing behind the thrower.
While running at full speed the warrior
raises the right arm, bringing the fist, with
the spear tightly clinched, far back over
the right shoulder Then, with sudden
forward bound, the whole weight of the