Jasper County Democrat, Volume 19, Number 88, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 January 1917 — SHOOTING FISH IN GUIANA [ARTICLE]

SHOOTING FISH IN GUIANA

Native Indians. Still Adhere to Use of Bows and Arrows in This Sport. t Although the Guiana. Indians all use guns for hunting game, they still adhere to bows ~nnd arrows for killing fish, and employ blow-guns and wpurali—poisoned darts for securing birds and small animals. The bows are usually of letterwofid, about five feet in length, and very powerful. The arrows vary according to the purpose for which they are designed ; but all are long—from five to six feet —- with shafts of arrow-cane and a shank of hardwood fitted at one end. This piece is ripped by a steel point or head which is fixed immovably if the arrow is for shooting birds or small fish; or, if used for killing turtle and large fish, is equipped with a socketed head, attached to a long, strong, cotton lige. When a large fish Is struck, the shaft floats free from the socketed head, which acts as a toggle, and turns at right angles when a strain is put on the line. By means of this jtharpoon-llke arrangement the fish or turtle is hauled in. Neither fish' nor turtle arrows? are feathered, but those used In hunting birds are provided with two feathers which seem far too small to serve any useful purpose. With these simple weapons the Indians creep along the rocky edges of the streams! and eddies and with marvelous dexterity shoot the fish which only their hawklike eyes can discern deep beneath the surface. Naked, save for a lap, or loin-cloth, the hunter stands motionless as a statue, with drawn bow and poised arrow, and, If no fish are visible within range, he “calls them” by a peculiar beckoning motion of his hand and a low’ whistle. Whether or not the jlsh actually respond to this command I cannot say, but the Indians affirm that they do, and, when this method fails, the savages resort to attracting the fish within range by throwing certain pods and seeds into the water. —A. Hyatt Verrill In Harper’s Magazine.