CHAPTER III.
ART OF WAR.
Mode o f conducting tears among all savages nearly the same.—
Civilized tribes may be described as an armed population.__
Native weapons— Poisoned weapons.— Use o f the bow and
arrow, and o f the sling— The spear The kris. The
sword Fire arms.— Cannon.— Small arms Military
character o f the country inhabited by the Indian islanders,
and how it affects their mode o f conducting wars.— Different
descriptions o f military force.— Modes o f levying troops.__
O f declaring war and organizing the military force.— Mode
o f fighting.—Mode o f provisioning the army.— Conduct towards
the dead, wounded, and prisoners.— Anecdotes in illustration
.
T h e r e is so little diversity in the mode of conducting
wars among communities in the lowest
stages of civil existence in every part of the world,
that an account of it among one or two tribes is
an account of it among all. We are familiar with
the disgusting picture, as it presents itself among
the savages of America, and I rest satisfied, that
the hostilities of the savages of the Indian islanders,
did we possess the most intimate knowledge of
them, would afford very little variety. This