It is the sight of shields, or guns that inspires terror.

The bowmen feel perfectly helpless when the enemy comes with even the small protection the skin shield affords, or attacks them in the open field with guns.

They may shoot a few arrows, but they are such poor shots that ten to one if they hit.

The only thing that makes the arrow formidable is the poison; for if the poisoned barb goes in nothing can save the wounded.

A bow is in use in the lower end of Lake Nyassa, but is more common in the Maravi country, from six to eight inches broad, which is intended to be used as a shield as well as a bow; but we never saw one with the mark on it of an enemy's arrow.