[VANDOO]

MOST OF THE DEATHS IN A BATTLE USING THESE SPEARS WERE FROM INFECTION OR POISON AT A LATER TIME. I HAVE READ ACCOUNTS IN SEVERAL BOOKS OF WARRIORS WITH 10 OR MORE SPEARS STICKING IN THEM BREAKING THEM OFF AND CONTINUING TO FIGHT. THERE ARE SOME PICTURES OF SPEARS IN ONE OF THE ABOVE POSTS THAT HAVE VERY PRETTY WOVEN FIBER DECORATIONS ON THEM. THE YELLOW IS FROM A ORCHID PLANT THE FIBERS ARE SOAKED IN A VERY NASTY SOLUTION AND THEN WOVEN ON TO THE SPEAR. SOME OF THE PLANT FIBERS USED HAVE A NATURAL POISON AND SOME ARE SOAKED IN POISON OR SOMETHING ROTTEN OR NASTY TO CAUSE INFECTIONS. WHEN THE SPEAR PENETRATES THE WARM BLOOD AND MOVEMENT SOFTEN AND UNWINDS THESE FIBERS AND THEY FRAGMENT IN THE WOUNDS THE INFECTIOUS AGENTS OR POISON ALSO GOES INTO THE SURROUNDING TISSUE OR INTO THE BLOOD.
THE ARTICLE IN THE OTHER POST MENTIONS A TYPE OF PALM WOOD USED FOR SPEAR TIPS THAT ALSO FRAGMENTS WHEN IN WARM BLOOD AND IS VERY DIFFICULT TO REMOVE IT ALSO PREVENTS HEALING AND PROMOTES INFECTION IT MAY HAVE A NATURAL PLANT POISON.
NEW GUINEA AND FIJI AND MANY OTHER AREAS OF THE TROPICAL WORLD HAVE A VERY GOOD ENVIRONMENT FOR MANY TYPES OF INFECTIONS SO A WOUND THAT IS NOT CLEANED AND TREATED VERY WELL USUALLY RESULTED IN A SLOW PAINFUL DEATH. SO THERE IS LITTLE WONDER THAT A WARRIOR WHO WAS SPEARED WOULD FIGHT ON IF HE COULD BECAUSE HE WAS PROBABLY A WALKING DEAD MAN AND IT WOULD BE A FASTER MORE MERCIFUL DEATH IN BATTLE. HE COULD GAIN HONOR AND REVENGE AT THE SAME TIME WHILE AVOIDING A SLOW PAINFUL DEATH WITHOUT HONOR LATER. IT MIGHT BE HARD TO REALLY DETERMINE WHO WON A BATTLE EVEN IF ONE GROUP APPEARED TO WIN AND TOOK THE FIELD. IN THE END THE TRIBE WHO LOST THE MOST MEN WAS WEAKENED AND WERE THE REAL LOSERS REGARDLESS OF THE ONE BATTLES OUTCOME THAT DAY.
THESE FANCY POINTS ARE BEAUTIFUL TO LOOK AT FOR US BUT ARE MADE TO LOOK INTIMIDATING TO THEIR TARGETS AND DESIGNED TO BREAK OFF IN WOUNDS AND BE HARD TO REMOVE AND TO CAUSE DEATH NOT TO BE BEAUTIFUL.