Indian Antiquary Vol 15

Author(s): John Faithfull Fleet, Richard Carnac Temple
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 33

JANUARY, 1886.]
BOOK NOTICES.
27
found in the Dakhan, while others resemble the kuruntadi or short club. The affinity of these tribes to the ancient Egyptians, is further de. ducible from their language which belongs to the Hamitic stock. This consists of several groups, one of which under the general name of Bishari (the Bishareen of late newspaper correspondents) is found occupying the extensive tract between Abyssinia and Suskin, and the Red Sea and the Nile. It is described as a language of great historical interest, and is supposed to be that used in the Hieroglyphic Inscriptions of Nubia. The different dialects of which it is composed are now spoken by the Hadendoa, Ababde, Boja, and other tribes, known collectively to the Romans as the Blemmyes, and in the Middle Ages as the Beja."
The bow is very much the same among all the tribes which retain its use. It is about 5 feet long, generally of bamboo, and strung by means of a slip of cane or bamboo bark. The arrows, which are from 2 to 3 feet long, are variously pointed. On one occasion I met with a peculiarity which, as far as I am aware, has not been noticed before. When exploring the Godavari in 1848 we landed to communicate with some natives in a foreat on the bank, and examining their arms Colonel (now Sir Arthur) Cotton, who was of the party, observed that the feathering of their arrows was adjusted spirally.15 On in. quiring the reason they said they had inherited the practice from their forefathers, and that it gave the arrow a more accurate flight.
The above description applies to all the bows in use among the Non-Aryan tribes, but a more elaborate sort, like those numbered 80 and 457 (Handbook, pp. 81, 114) from Travancore and Gwalior, seem to hare been intended rather for show than use. Others of a composite character are alluded to in a note at the same place, but are now seldom, if ever, seen. Examples of the kamdn or curved Tåtar bow, made of horn, are occasionally met with, but being of foreign origin
and belonging to a much later period do not call for more notice here.16
From these ruder weapons we pass to the arms with a cutting edge, which came into uso at a more advanced stage of society, when the art of smelting metal became known. One of the earli. est forms was that in use among the Khonds, Kols, and Sauras known by the name of tångí, a Hindi word of Sansksit origin. It is a sort of axe with wooden handle from 2 to 3 feet long and upwards. They are shod with brass, the blades being of various shapes, each distinctive of the different sections of the tribe. Several of these are figured at p. 73 of the Handbook, where they are entered under the name of tabar," a name I have never heard as being in use among the Khonds, and being a Persian word it is not likely it should be. Other specimens mentioned in the Handbook are said to come from the Malabar Coast. 18
After the bomerang the most characteristic Hindu weapon is a sort of bill or chopper which under various forms and names is found throughout the whole of India from the Himalayas to Capu Comorin. It is the kora (a) of Naipal, the kukri (6) of the Gurkhâs, the ayudha (c) katti of the Nairs and Moplas, and the korgatti of Coorg, Maisar, &c. They are often carried slung to the back equally ready for attack or defence, or for clearing a path through the forest. Parasurima, the leader of the Turanian colony which invaded the western coast, is represented as carrying a parasu (Sanskrit bill or battle-axe), which, though generally figured and translated as a battle-axe, must have been the Nair war-knife or ayudha katti still carried by his tribe. It is the prototype to the eastward of the dd or ddo' which according to Captain Lewin is in general use among the wild tribes. It is a blade about 18 inches long, narrow at the haft, square at the top, pointless, and sharpened on one side only. Speaking of the Karena, Major Tickell says, "In the hand is generally carried the dd (an awkward implement, half-knife, half
13 Specimens of this description were not wanting in the India Museum, as appears by the mention in Mr. Egerton's noto at pp. 78, 81, where he refers to * Cudgels or sticks used by watchmen, robbers, and others, plain and iron-bound. Some of them are 4 and 4 feet long, with which may be associated the clubs called kanda 4 or 5 feet long carried by the Todas (well. marked typical representatives of the Australoid group), which are entirely of wood, neatly shaped, and seem to be the only weapon in use among them.
Cuat's Modern Languages of Africa, Vol. I. pp. 125-26; Conf. also pp. 89, 40.
Since this was written Colonel Clay, late of the Madras Survey, has told me that he brought homo a number of arrows feathered in this way from Gumsur which are now in the posession of Sir Robert Sinclair. Achversdale Lodge, Caithness.
26 Descriptions of these, the mode in which they are
strung, and the agate ring sihghir (from the Porn. siha bowstring and gir taking or catching), or sofan (from the Arabic rootscraping) for protecting the thumb when dincharging the arrow (p. 114) two of which we possess, will be found in the lists. See Nos. 366, 457-59, 592-98.
11 Group I. Nos. 30-32, 35, 37, 30, 40-42, 51, 56. 1 Groups II. III. p. 79, Nos. 89, 90. 19 (a) Group VII. p. 100, Nos. 322, 323.
(6) Group VII. p. 100, No. 314, 315, 318, 319.
(c) ayudha-katti, literally war-knife, is from the Sanskrit Oyudha, A weapon, or arms of any kind, which is derived from the root yudh to fight. It is the aydıtkatti of the Handbook, Groups II. II. p. 79, figs. 111, 119, 128. 90 Group IV. p. 84, Nos. 192, 194, 195, 202, 209, 213.
Group V. Pp. 84-95, Nos. 241, 242, 250, 252.. *1 Wild Races of Southern India.