Pagan races of the Malay Peninsula - Sabrizain.org

26o WEAPONS AND IMPLEMENTS
collects about the leaf-bases of certain palms, especially
the " tukas " [Caryota Griffitkii or C. mitis), or certain
kinds of rattan (Calmnus geminiflcris), and results
from the destruction of the softer tissues/
In shooting, the entire mouthpiece is, as a rule,
taken into the mouth, the fingers being commonly
crossed beneath the tube (near the mouthpiece).
Sometimes, however, the edges of the mouthpiece
alone are inserted between the teeth and the lips.
As the dart leaves the tube, there is a sharp hollow
" ping " like that of a pop-gun.
Range of Dart.
The effective range of the blowpipe darts used
by the best " shots " of these tribes may be put at from
50 to 60 yards as an outside limit, but in practice a
range of 100 feet is seldom exceeded.^
' Vaughan-Stevens, ii. Ii6. Really
the fibro-vascular bundles of the leaf-
sheaths.
2 Cp. Newbold, ii. pp. 400, 401 :
"It is propelled by collecting a considerable
quantity of air in the lungs,
and suddenly emitting it with a sharp
noise resembling that occasioned by
the discharge of an air-gun."
3 Cp. , for example (of the Sakai),
(i) Hale, p. 289, where it is stated that
the range is effective up to 60 yards (55
m.), and that at 50 yards (45 m.) a
skilled performer will put five out of
six darts into a playing card.
(2) De Morgan (vii. 417) says they
can shoot straight up to 80 metres,
but in practice do not shoot more than
30 to 35 paces {23 m. to 27 m.).
(3) Letessier puts the range at 28-30
yards (25m. to 27m.), but he is no doubt
speaking of the ordinary range of their
shooting. They usually shoot at fairly
short range, in order to make sure of
their aim, as they do not wish to risk
wastin" their arrows.
-
(4) J. A. G. Campbell says : "I have
myself seen birds and monkeys killed
on high trees at a distance of 60
yards" (55 m.) ; and adds: "The
Sakai seldom misses his shot " (S. J.
iii. 241).
Of the Jakun— (i) Log;in (iny. /. A.
vol. ii. p. 262) states that the range
(of the blowpipe-dart) to take proper
effect is about 70 or 80 feet (21 m.
to 24 m.). " Some can reach 140 or
150 feet (46 m. to 49 m.), but then
there will be little chance of their
inflicting a dangerous wound."
(2) Bcrie (tr. Bourien), p. 78, says
50-60 yards (45 m. to 54 m. ).
(3) Newbold, ii. 400, 401, puts the
effective range at 60-70 feet (20 m.).
(4) \'aut;han-Stevens, in V. B. G. A.
xxiii. 835, 836, puts it at 20-30 metres
in a horizontal direction, and more
in a vertical.
(5) The Kuantan blowpipe is very
roughly made ; it has a range of 40
paces (30 m.) only (Vaughan-Stevens,
ii. 113)-