BOHOL NA FANÀ - Blaan bow and arrow

Text

Annotated text (Blaan Kastulen June, 2022)

BOHOL NA FANÀ   Used to hunt wild boar or big wild birds. It can also be used to fight against enemy. The spear like arrow is called ‘tasaw’, made from a wild palm tree with a rattan bow string to stretch the spear like arrow and hit the target. Sometimes, it is poisoned in order to easily kill the hunt or the enemy. The poison is taken from a  tree called ‘kayu lawat’.

Original Text

(From reference card of the Field Museum Catalogue Number: 129516) 

Bohol. Palma Brava bow, overwrapped with rattan. Rattan bow string attached as described under 129514. The  spear-like  arrow heads are of bamboo and are set in a palma brave shank which fits into a reed shaft. 

Field Museum Catalogue Number: 129516

From note on 129514:

Arrowheads  serve different types.  The first is of bamboo and is  shaped like a spearhead.  This is for deer and other large game or for use in fights.  A second type not shown here is a long hard wood point drill shape and is used as described. ___

A third is of bamboo but with two points and is made especially for birds and fish.  A fourth is also double headed but made of iron and has barbs.  Three pointed arrows are not uncommon.All these latter are for birds and fish. They are not very effective at a distance. It is said that  these weapons  are not  poisoned but the Blaans have the reputation of poisoning arrowheads.

(Note: all instances of either B'laan, Bilaan or Bila-an in the Mapping Database have been changed to Blaan after specific requests from the Blaan of Sarangani Province June 2022. This would differ from the terminology in the original record, which is considered derogatory by the Blaan.)

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