THE MAJORITY OF THE BLOWGUNS I HAVE SEEN IN INDO CHINA (MALAYSIA, BORNEO, ECT) HAVE BEEN OF THE ROUND SORT AND NOT HAVING A LARGE MOUTHPIECE ADDED TO THE END. THE QUIVERS ARE USUALLY MADE OF BAMBOO AND THE DARTS USE A PITH CONE ON THE END TO SEAL THE DART IN THE TUBE. THEY ALSO HAVE A SPEAR BLADE AND METAL SIGHT, WHICH IS NOT USED IN SOUTH AMERICA. I HAVE SEEN ONE OF THE SHORT RECTANGLER ONES SAID TO BE MORO BUT THERE WAS NO PROVENANCE.
THE ONES USED IN SOUTH AMERICA ARE EITHER ROUND OR A FLAT RECTANGLER SHAPED. THE ROUND ONES HAVE THE LARGE MOUTHPIECE AND THE RETANGULAR DO NOT HAVE A MOUTH PIECE. BOTH STYLES OF THE SOUTH AMERICAN BLOWGUNS DO NOT HAVE A SPEAR BLADE. THE DART QUIVERS ARE OFTEN VERY SIMPLY MADE FROM PLANT FIBERS AND ALL USE SOME FORM OF PLANT FIBER LIKE (COTTON OR KAPOK) ON THE END TO SEAL THE LONG SPLINTER OR THORN. I THINK THERE IS A LARGER SET OF DARTS, POISON AND KAPOK THAT MAY BE LEFT AT THE CAMP WHILE HUNTING I HAVE SUCH A SET. JUST A SMALLER QUIVER WITH DARTS ALREADY PREPARED FOR USE WAS PROBABLY TAKEN ON THE HUNT. THE BLOWGUNS ARE QUITE LONG AND SOMETIMES HAVE A SIGHT MADE OF BONES OR TEETH FROM VARIOUS ANIMALS, PROBABLY TO BRING LUCK ON THE HUNT.
PICTURES ADDED ARE ALL DAYAK, SUMPIT MOUTHPEICE, BLADE, DARTS AND A TOOL FOR MAKING DARTS.
THERE IS ANOTHER BLOWGUN MADE IN THE FORM OF A DRAGON WITH A SMALL CONTAINER FOR DARTS. THE DRAGONS TAIL IS REMOVED AND THE DART INSERTED AND LEAVES THRU THE DRAGONS MOUTH. I HAVE SEEN THESE MADE OF HORN AND BONE SINCE THE 1960'S. I SUSPECT THEY ARE MADE FOR TOURISTS RATHER THAN FOR ACTUAL USE. BUT THEY ARE NEAT LOOKING.
MY THANKS TO THERION ARMS FOR SOME OF THE PICTURES I HOPE HE DOSEN'T MIND MY USING THEM FOR EXAMPLES.
