Pagan races of the Malay Peninsula - Sabrizain.org

2o8 HUNTING, TRAPPING, AND FISHING part ii
(i) A powerfully elastic and tapering rod or
" spring "
is set horizontally, with its thicker end
passed between two trees, the butt-end of the spear-
shaft (2) being securely lashed to its thinner extremity.
Two strong uprights (3) and (4), firmly planted
in the ground at right angles to the big spring, are
then connected by a stout cross-bar (5) and two pairs
of crossed sticks (6) and (7), the latter being planted
in the ground in a line with the two uprights.
A cord is then made fast to the outside pair of
cross-sticks (7) and attached to a rattan ring (8),
which slides along the cross-bar (5) till the cord
connecting it with (7) is drawn taut ; the smaller end of
the big spring is drawn back till it touches the anterior
upright (3), and set by means of a strong bamboo
noose (9), which is held by a small spring (9), the
other end of which is connected with the rattan ring
(8) already referred to.
Any animal which passes along the path between
the two sets of cross-sticks (6) and (7) and touches
the taut cord, in so doing pulls away the rattan ring
(8) and releases the small spring (9), which flies up,
releasing the big spring in its turn, the result being
that the spear is driven, with all the force that the
spring is capable of giving it, straight towards the
animal that touched the cord.
The next kind of spring-trap, referred to by Hale,
is one in which the big wooden spring is made to
strike the butt-end of a spear, causing it to fly like
an arrow across the track of any passing animal.
This spring-trap is undoubtedly the " b'lantek
paut," or "draw-back spring-spear," of the Peninsular
Malays.
The third kind of spring-trap, which is described