Kalahari bow, quiver and staff.

katana · 21st April 2007, 03:35 PM

Hi Tim,
nice 'set' may not be all that old, as they can be readily bought over the net. It is unlikely there is poison on the 'stick'....more likely gum used to fix the sections of the arrow together. The most common poison used is that of a beetle larvae, info in the link below.
The arrows usually comprises of four parts. In former times the point was made of stone or bone, but since contact with iron-smelting Bantu-speaking farmers they have also used triangular iron points.

The point is fixed to a short reed collar which is, in turn, connected to the main shaft of the arrow by a small torpedo-shaped piece of wood or bone, the "link".
When the arrow strikes an animal, the impact causes the link to split the shaft so that longer portion falls away and the point is left embedded in the animal. If the point doesn't split from the shaft this could result in the animal dislodging the arrow when running through the bushes.

The arrows are carried in quivers that are normally made of the root of an acacia or quiver tree. When the root is heated, the bark expands, loosens itself from the pith of the root which is then removed from the bark. The sides of the quiver are covered in leather, which shrinks firmly around the quiver when it dries out. In the quiver, there will be a set of fire sticks standard kit for the bushmen.

http://www.museums.org.za/bio/insect...dae/arrows.htm

http://www.tsumkwe.com/curios.asp

Regards David

PS with the multiple postings, I thought you'd acquired enough bows to re-enact Agincourt

21st April 2007, 03:35 PM	#7
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,658	Hi Tim, nice 'set' may not be all that old, as they can be readily bought over the net. It is unlikely there is poison on the 'stick'....more likely gum used to fix the sections of the arrow together. The most common poison used is that of a beetle larvae, info in the link below. The arrows usually comprises of four parts. In former times the point was made of stone or bone, but since contact with iron-smelting Bantu-speaking farmers they have also used triangular iron points. The point is fixed to a short reed collar which is, in turn, connected to the main shaft of the arrow by a small torpedo-shaped piece of wood or bone, the "link". When the arrow strikes an animal, the impact causes the link to split the shaft so that longer portion falls away and the point is left embedded in the animal. If the point doesn't split from the shaft this could result in the animal dislodging the arrow when running through the bushes. The arrows are carried in quivers that are normally made of the root of an acacia or quiver tree. When the root is heated, the bark expands, loosens itself from the pith of the root which is then removed from the bark. The sides of the quiver are covered in leather, which shrinks firmly around the quiver when it dries out. In the quiver, there will be a set of fire sticks standard kit for the bushmen. http://www.museums.org.za/bio/insect...dae/arrows.htm http://www.tsumkwe.com/curios.asp Regards David PS with the multiple postings, I thought you'd acquired enough bows to re-enact Agincourt