T1S BOO T A N.
manly courage. Their feeble mode of attack and defence is, therefore,
imputable onfy to their want of discipline r to their not fighting in
compact files or platoons 4 and to their consequent distrust? of each
other ; and*something also must be attributed: tok their utter inixperi»
enCe of war: for indeed, among this crowd' of combatants, we find
merely husbandmen and villagers', called at once from their peaceful
occupations to the field of : battle»
Every kind of discipline and order is tot ally disregarded .in-- Aeijr.
mode of warfare; stratagem is more practised than open-assault 1 they
engage ha general as marksmen, and wait their opportunity to fire
unobserved. Both parties are so careful to conceal themselves* that
seldom any ifiing is visible but the top of a tufted helmet j Or -t-hecnd
of a bow :hno wonder, therefore, that in their contests very few are
killed.
The accoutrements of a fighting man, fully equipped; are extremely
cumbrous: A prodigious deal of loose clothing surrounds the foody:
besides the common mantle, he wears very often a blanket, or thick
quilted jacket. .This, as well as the helmet, (which is made eitherof
stained cane, coiled conically, or else of cotton rope, quilted between
two cloths, with flaps that occasionally turn down over the ears, and
a piece to cover the nose,) if not absolutely proof against the stroke
of a sword or arrow, must at least considerably weaken its force. He
carries upon his arm a large convex shield of painted cane, coiled
close, and a long straight sword is worn across the body, thrust
through the belt before. To these arms must be added, a bow, and
a quiver of arrows, slung by a belt behind the back; .the arrows
being icommodinusly, drawn fronj it .oyer; the leJh>,shoiujder. The how
istwhekh in. the right > hand; it iss^0mfe<%hly||six ifeefef|iong| made^of
jna.mhon. straight .^foqffoa wstring is a
small .cord, of hemp .of^appropriate len g th its • tension,-and .the.Gonse-
quent curvature ®f the. bow;riependii^ .upbnh^’4®gr^e?df twi»jii gi-ven
to silt before'the ibawis.'bcnifo 1.
; ’The kind of bamboo in usfe fori hows,, is.peculiar. to,'the*hjUk^and is
jpnarkafole for elasticity.and* strength jcthey.’are made of a split piece,
jjf ltwo pieces united by bands .together,€#heii smooffi.spFfaee
placed «ithfeah The.string-is drawn by the thumb, armed with a ring
of bone, or a piece of thick l e a t h e r , r o u n d it, sand the i forefinger,
crossed upon the nail, serves tp give addjtionri fipeesta the iteration.
I S arrow is .formed of a species of dwarf bamboo, produced also
among tbese mountains. it is headed by a fattened!ibarb of pointed
iron, rite sides of which arq sometimes grooved, im(wfaiefot appears ; to
answer the same purpose), the b?rb eh*.either side as 1p diftld,..turned
hark, to admit the lodgment pfpoison; with which deadly suljsjgdfie,
I was sorry to hear, it is;S0metipescha®gedi.v>'
The poison made use of, as far as I could collect,.is an Jtspissated
veptable juice; but from what plant it ;is pj^iped>,.|lffi!ujd! pesp^d»-
tinctly leamsf it appeared to my observe#© $}%<&#&£ gllmiMfcxin
-consistence and appearance, muofi resembling crude Agipm,. .
• Some Boo.tqeasare armed with, matchlock tnuskUs^^tMtejf stoc^ol
which is attached a fork, which serves as a seat, when aftheyc^idr
.grouches' to take ,his■ aim. .-Theirvike-armg are e n a ble:
evidently of no use, but in/the fairest jye^ther, wfien th&.j®i&tch will