Evening star., 1942-09-03
Of Stors, Men
And Atoms
Notebook Of Science Progress
In Laboratory, Field
And Study
BIZ Thomas r. Henry.

Mans earliest fighting and hunting
weapons, which antedate history, have
survived over the millenniums into the
age of tanks and airplanes.
But with the spread of the killing
instruments of civilization to the re-
motest parts of the earth, the primitive
contrivances have become largely aux
Hilary weapons of hunters and herdsmen.
The evolution is illustrated in an ex-
hibit just arranged by the Smithsonian
Institution, which has one of the worlds
finest collections of the arms of primitive
peoples.
The most ancient of projectile weapons
are the throwing club and the slingshot
They are among the most fundamental
of human inventions and both still are
retained in degenerate form over large
areas of the earth. both as toys and as
auxiliary weapons in hunting and herd
ing.
A type of the weapon with which
David slew Goliath, and in the use of
which Hebrew warriors were exception
ally expert, still is employed by Arab
goat -herders in parts of Palestine. 1t
also is used by herdsmen in most of
Eastern Europe and until recently was
employed in Spain for driving bulls into
the ring. A specimen in the Smith
sonian collection is of the type used by
Aymara llama herders of Peru.
1t was the chief weapon of the Incas
of Peru. 1t was highly developed among
the Aztecs and was the chief weapon
used in street fighting against the
soldiers of Cortez. They dreaded it, for
the stones cracked their inferior armor.
Use of the sling also was known to
practically all Indian tribes of North and
South America. Indians along the Gulf
Coast used it as an auxiliary to the
long bow.
At least equally ancient is the throw
ing club" carved in the shape of a
ball on both ends. In the form of the
'knob-kerry." it still is a potent weapon
in the hands of the South African zulus.
Australian aborigines have a very SINH
lar weapon which is used In both
fighting and hunting. 1t Is the direct
ancestor of the boomerang, the most
familiar type of which is decadent
form used as plaything or in herding
flocks of waterfowl.
One of the most potent weapons of
ancient man was the throwing board, or
spear thrower. 1t is a means of increas-
ing leverage, and hence velocity and
force of spear thrown by hand This
probably antedates the bow all over the
world. There are indications that 1t
was the first hunting and fighting
weapon used in North America.
The so-called Folsom points," which
have been picked up over most of the
United States and the Oldest of which
are believed to have been used as much
as 10000 years ago, may have been
| designed as tips for javelins hurled with
throwing boards against mammoth and
| giant bison. s.a io neor re- csr .,
This weapon was brought to high
state of efficiency both by the Eskimo
and by the Aztec. The former still use
| 1t in hunting waterfowl and seal.
Essentially contemporaneous with the
bow appeared the blow gun, primarily a
hunting weapon, which still Is used both
al IVA OOuIll dIlQ Ill
| Malaysia. 1t is little more than a
| hollow stick in which is inserted a very
| light arrow tipped with poison.
puff of compressed air from the
lungs sends 1t on its way with consider
able velocity for 80 to 10 yards. The
great advantage is the absolute, silence
with which 1t can be operated
The blow gun was found only along
the Gulf and East Coasts of North
America, where it had made its way as
far north as the Iroouois tribes of West
ern New York. One of the best of the
Smithsonian collection was used by
the Cherokees in North Carolina.
The closest American approach to the
boomerang is the rabbit stick of the Hopi
Indians. 1t is flattened stick SO carved
that when it strikes the ground it re-
bounds several times in circle. It is
aimed at small animal. If the thrower
misses there is good chance that the
confused creature will be hit on one OF
the rebounds. Obviously it is of no value
except for hunting.