Modern Blowpipe |
Classical Blowpipe |
Blowpipe dart poison in Borneo is generally produced from the latex of the Antiaris toxicaria tree (Moraceae). This latex contains a variety of toxic chemical compounds.
Antaris Toxicaria |
The principal toxic agent is a steroid glycoside known as [beta]-Antiarin. A lethal dose (L50) is only about 0.1 mg. per kg. weight of a warm-blooded animal. To dehydrate the milky latex into a paste, a long, carefully implemented procedure is essential because the steroid glycoside compound is extremely heat-sensitive. Therefore, hunters perform the dehydration of the latex by using a young leaf from the small Licuala spinosa palm. The leaf is folded into a boat-shaped container to hold the latex at a carefully determined distance over a small flame for about one week. This is possible because the young Licuala leaf is astonishingly fireproof and durable. This is the secret of producing the lethal poison. If the latex were heated at too high a temperature, the glycoside compound would crack and its toxicity would be lost.
Introduction
The diverse indigenous Dayak tribes, as well as the formerly semi-settled hunters and gatherers of Borneo (Kalimantan) such as the Punan, Berusu, and Basap have traditionally hunted for wild animals with blowpipes and poison darts. The blowpipe, which is about two meters long, is made of ironwood (Eusideroxylon zwageri), generally known as ulin in Indonesia, or of another hardwood species. Among my collection are also some antique blowpipes cut from bamboo sections.
Leafs of Antaris Toxicaria |
The 30 cm. long blowpipe darts weigh less than 1 g. The darts exit the blowpipe at a speed (V0) of at least 50 m/see, or about 180 km/h, as ascertained through trials by the author at the German Bundeskriminalarat (German Federal Bureau of Investigation) in the city of Wiesbaden in 1985 (Zahorka 1986:37). Because of minimal weight and high velocity, the darts' trajectory is flat up to a distance of 25 to 30 meters. Therefore, at this distance, the dart can hit an animal even if only a small part of it is visible or it is shielded by branches and leaves in the dense jungle cover. This would not be possible if using a bow because the flight path of a heavy arrow is not straight but takes on a ballistic curve. Another advantage of hunting with a blowpipe is the nearly soundless shooting.
Licuala spinosa palm |
To poison the darts, the tips are simply dipped and turned round in the thick toxic paste. This poison is very durable and effective for years if not heated.
Old poisoned darts in museums are dangerous even after decades of display (Needham 1988). The comment "... it cannot be stored and must be used fresh." (Boer et al. 1999:128) is incorrect. The traditional hunters prepare new poison about once a year. If stored poison gets too hard, it is made glutinous again by adding the sap of pressed Derris elliptica roots, which contain a neurotoxin and a haematotoxin. Some authors claim that other poisons are added, such as snake poison, strychnos or the like (Potsch-Schneider 1982). None of the tribes I have spent time with in Kalimantan since 1976 have ever confirmed this. No other ingredients can enhance the lethal effectiveness of [beta]-Antiarin
Old poisoned darts in museums are dangerous even after decades of display (Needham 1988). The comment "... it cannot be stored and must be used fresh." (Boer et al. 1999:128) is incorrect. The traditional hunters prepare new poison about once a year. If stored poison gets too hard, it is made glutinous again by adding the sap of pressed Derris elliptica roots, which contain a neurotoxin and a haematotoxin. Some authors claim that other poisons are added, such as snake poison, strychnos or the like (Potsch-Schneider 1982). None of the tribes I have spent time with in Kalimantan since 1976 have ever confirmed this. No other ingredients can enhance the lethal effectiveness of [beta]-Antiarin
.
Like omai, the arrow poison of the Mentawaians (Zahorka 2004b:34), the ipoh or upas poison acts in a lethal manner only if applied in a parenteralic manner. Death results from cardiac failure. Intestinal absorbance rarely occurs. Therefore, the meat of bagged game is edible. For safety reasons, a small piece of meat is cut off at the spot where the poison dart hit the animal. Boiling and frying the meat also destroys the poison.
Animals hit by a poison dart, irrespective of the part of the body that is pierced, start to twitch after a few seconds. This state lasts several minutes as the animal's condition worsens and convulsions occur. The animals lose consciousness at an accelerating rate. The throes of death last longer with large animals like wild boar or deer. Death is ultimately due to cardiac failure. The cardiac glycoside affects the Na K ATPase activity of the heart muscle membrane (Boer et al. 1999: 127).
Reports on dosage specify that 0.3 mg would be lethal for a rabbit. One mg. causes death in dogs (Boer et al. 1999:127), while 0.1mg. is the lethal dosage (L50) per kg. weight for cats (Zahorka 1986:58). The toxicity of [beta]-Antiarin is much higher than that of curare.
Acknowledgements
The author would like to express his grateful appreciation to IR. Izu Andri of the Botanic Gardens Bogor for providing young Licuala leaves for fire-resistance trials
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Herwig Zahorka "Blowpipe dart poison in Borneo and the secret of its production: the latex of Antiaris toxicaria; the poison-making procedure; the heat-sensitive main toxic chemical compound, and the lethal effect of the poison". Borneo Research Bulletin. 13 Dec, 2011.
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