African Poison arrows and quiver

Norman McCormick · 29th January 2008, 08:30 PM

Hello,
Apparently poison was still being used in Europe, specifically Spain, in the 16th and early 17th centuries when hunting game. Ralph Payne-Gallwey in his Book of the Crossbow cites examples from a work on field sports in Spain written by Alonzo Martinez Del Espinar, 1644. The poison in question is made from the root of the White Hellebore, I've actually got some of this stuff growing in the garden !!!!, which should be washed, pounded and pressed to extract the juice which then has to be strained, boiled and reduced to a viscous syrup. To test the poison you get a needle and thread, pass the thread through the poison syrup then pierce the foot of a chicken with the needle until it bleeds then draw the thread through the foot. In the time of saying 'Credo' the bird will nod and in a short time die. This poison seems to have been pretty strong as it was used to kill amongst other beasts, full grown stags. It was known as the 'Crossbowman's herb' and was smeared on the arrow shaft from the point downwards for five or six finger breadths then a strip of thin linen was wound around the poisoned part to which it adhered without the need for glue, there doesn't seem to be an explanation for the linen wrap but I suspect it was to either protect the bowman from the poison or the poison from being deposited in places it shouldn't be until use.
Regards,
Norman.

Jim McDougall · 29th January 2008, 10:42 PM

This has indeed proven a lively topic Kirsten, and hope the notes posted here will provide useful data to add to the research you are doing. I would really like to hear more as your project develops, and you are fortunate if you have access to the valuable resources at Pitt-Rivers.

I wonder if the clay like substance on the shaft might have been intended as an absorbant to hold the poison?

Norman, thank you for the information on European use of poison in hunting. It does seem that Spain held on to weapons and traditions much longer than most European countries, and it seems even used plug bayonets well into the 19th century. The suggestion of the use of poison in European swords and daggers has always intrigued me, and I've often wondered just how much of it was true and how much was simply hyperbole.

The wrapping of the segment of shaft holding the poison seems like a very plausible way to prevent accidental removal or inadvertant self poisoning as you suggest. It seems like one of the Tanzanian poison arrows I saw in one of the references was wrapped with something in this manner.

All best regards,
Jim

29th January 2008, 08:30 PM	#1
Norman McCormick Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,638	Hello, Apparently poison was still being used in Europe, specifically Spain, in the 16th and early 17th centuries when hunting game. Ralph Payne-Gallwey in his Book of the Crossbow cites examples from a work on field sports in Spain written by Alonzo Martinez Del Espinar, 1644. The poison in question is made from the root of the White Hellebore, I've actually got some of this stuff growing in the garden !!!!, which should be washed, pounded and pressed to extract the juice which then has to be strained, boiled and reduced to a viscous syrup. To test the poison you get a needle and thread, pass the thread through the poison syrup then pierce the foot of a chicken with the needle until it bleeds then draw the thread through the foot. In the time of saying 'Credo' the bird will nod and in a short time die. This poison seems to have been pretty strong as it was used to kill amongst other beasts, full grown stags. It was known as the 'Crossbowman's herb' and was smeared on the arrow shaft from the point downwards for five or six finger breadths then a strip of thin linen was wound around the poisoned part to which it adhered without the need for glue, there doesn't seem to be an explanation for the linen wrap but I suspect it was to either protect the bowman from the poison or the poison from being deposited in places it shouldn't be until use. Regards, Norman.

29th January 2008, 10:42 PM	#2
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,536	This has indeed proven a lively topic Kirsten, and hope the notes posted here will provide useful data to add to the research you are doing. I would really like to hear more as your project develops, and you are fortunate if you have access to the valuable resources at Pitt-Rivers. I wonder if the clay like substance on the shaft might have been intended as an absorbant to hold the poison? Norman, thank you for the information on European use of poison in hunting. It does seem that Spain held on to weapons and traditions much longer than most European countries, and it seems even used plug bayonets well into the 19th century. The suggestion of the use of poison in European swords and daggers has always intrigued me, and I've often wondered just how much of it was true and how much was simply hyperbole. The wrapping of the segment of shaft holding the poison seems like a very plausible way to prevent accidental removal or inadvertant self poisoning as you suggest. It seems like one of the Tanzanian poison arrows I saw in one of the references was wrapped with something in this manner. All best regards, Jim