Blowgun

a primitive weapon used especially by some Indian tribes of South America. It consists of a tube or blowpipe from ten to twelve feet long, ingeniously constructed by setting one palm stem within another so as to prevent warping. An arrow about two feet in length is made from the spine of another palm. It is wound with cotton down to make it fit the tube perfectly. This arrow is expelled by the breath with wonderful accuracy. An experienced hunter is able to kill birds in the top of the tallest trees. As the arrow is perfectly noiseless, he is frequently able to shoot several birds before his presence is noticed; thus doing more execution than a sportsman with a double-barreled shotgun. In war, the tips of the arrows are poisoned. A flight of poisoned arrows from Indians in ambush is to be dreaded. See Archery