Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1901-07-26
POISONED ARROWS.


Various Methods of Making Thorn Deadly
Practiced by savages.
DR.. W. J. Hoffman of the geological
survey has been making a study of
poisoned arrows. Among other things
he says:
THE Amos of Japan prepare poi
son for spreading upon bamboo or
metal arrow 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 islands the
practice obtains to a considerable eX-
tent.
"The poisoning of arrows prevails
extensively in Africa, particularly on
the west coast, in the Gaboon. among
the Somalis and with the Bushmen.
By the Bushmen the juice of a plant
is used, mixed with the pulp of ven
omous worm.
"The best-known ana most active
of arrow poisons is the woorara or
urari of South America. 1t is chiefly
used for the tips of darts blown from
tllt blON sun, anu lliC lllOob III pCA leliI
ingredient is the juice of the plant
from which strychnine is obtained, to
which are added certain other Vege-
table elements and serpent venom.
In Central America poisons are also
employed on arrows and blowgun
darts. The Caribs employed similarly
a poison made from the sap of tree
called the mancen lilies. The antidote
was the application to the wound Of
what we call arrow root.
THE Seris of Northwestern Mexico
prepared poison by putting into the
ground cows liver. rattlesnakes,
scorpions, centipedes and other un-
pleasant things, and beating them with
a stock. Into the mixture the arrow
root points were dipped, and it would
be difficult to imagine a. much more
poisonous concoction or compound.
The Apaches and neighboring tribes
were until recently in the habit of
smearing upon their arrows compost
tion said to be composed of a decom-
posed deer's liver and rattlesnake
venom. On some instances crushed
red ants are also reported to have
been used.
"a microscopic examination of such
a coating upon arrows obtained from
Apaches years ago showed the pres
ence of blood and crystalline sub
stance that was apparently rattle
snake venom. 1t is a wellestablished
fact that the venom of serpents retains
ite ,oicppoug ,,rOportioc ,vb.Ar Jt.iad in.
definitely.
THE Shoshone and Bannock Indians
that the proper way to poison arrows,
as formerly practised by them. is to
secure deer and cause it to be bitten
by rattlesnake. Immediately after
which the deer is killed, and the meat
removed and placed in a hole in the
ground. When the mass has become
putrid the arrow points are dipped
into it. The Clallams of Puget Sound
used to make arrow points of copper,
which were afterward dipped in sea
water ana permitted to corrode. This
was a dead sure death-dealer.
81 have never m6t an Indian who
would admit the use of poisoned ar
rows in warfare against man. They
will say they use poisoned arrows to
kill game, but not to shoot in warfare.
In nearly all instances when polsons
are prepared by Indians the operation
is performed with more or less cere-
mony, chanting and incantation, for
the purpose of invoking evil spirits or
demons. In their belief the effects Of
poison are due wholly to the presence
in them Of maleyolent spirits or dem
ons, which enter the body of victims
and destroy life"