Humans have always used hunting to obtain food. Many different hunting weapons have been invented over time. The so-called projectile weapons, which can be used to kill or capture an animal from a distance, have always been popular. Well-known hunting weapons such as boomerang, bow and arrow, crossbow, blowgun with poison arrow, catapult, sling and spears. After the invention of gunpowder, the hunting rifle was added. A lesser known hunting weapon is the Boleadoras.
Boleadoras
The Boleadoras is a primitive, but formidable weapon for hunting. It is designed to capture animals by entangling their legs with the cord. If thrown with enough force, even bones can be broken. Speeds of 100 miles per hour are no exception.
The name Boleadoras, simply called Bolas, comes from the Spanish word bola for ball. The Bole adoras is similar to the Japanese Surujin.
The Boleadoras consists of two, usually 3 cords with a ball at the end. The cords are tied together at the other end. There is no set description of this weapon; there are also Bole adoras with eight balls. Some Boleadoras have balls of equal weight, others do not. The Boleadora balls are made of wooden balls, or of iron balls, or of a stone with a notch around it or of leather bags filled with stones. The cords are often made of braided leather or rope.
Depending on the shape of the weapon, it is grasped to throw at one of the balls or where the cords meet.
The original, authentic Boleadoras are purely functional, but you now also have special Boleadoras specially made for decoration or for sale to tourists. There are very luxurious Boleadoras made of ivory and precious metals such as silver and gold. Some are true works of art and sought-after collector’s items. See photos below.
Boleadoras are used by various population groups such as Chinese, Eskimos, South American Indians and Argentinian Gauchos. Evidence has also been found in pre-Hispanic settlements in South America that early peoples there used Boleadoras to catch guanacos (a type of llama) and ñandus (a type of ostrich).
Names Boleadoras
Boleadoras are named after the number of balls used:
|
Number of balls |
Name Boleadoras |
|
1 ball |
Bola Perdida or Bola Loca (Lost ball or Crazy ball) |
|
2 balls |
Avestrucera or Nanducera |
|
3 balls |
Boleadora or Tres Marias or Tres Potreadoras |
|
4 balls |
Ka-Lum-Ik-Toun (the Eskimo name) |
Bola Perdida was initially a weapon against people.
3-ball boleadoras usually have two short strings with heavier balls and one longer string with a lighter ball. They are usually used for catching heavy animals such as cattle.
Gauchos and Boleadoras
The Argentinian Gauchos from South America are famous cowboys with Boleadoras. They are and were masters at catching running cattle by throwing the Boleadoras while sitting on horseback. The technique these Gauchos use is not something you can easily learn on a free Saturday afternoon. A lot of practice precedes this and it is often passed on from father to son. The following expression (untranslated) actually says it all:
“While it can take five years to learn the tango, it takes a lifetime to master the Gaucho skills.”
Competitions between the Gauchos and demonstrations are popular entertainment. Nowadays Gauchos also perform spectacular shows for tourists, which are very attractive to watch. There are even special dances with Boleadoras in which Gauchos demonstrate their agility to the rhythm of exciting Argentinian music. The Boleadoras that are used are not ordinary Boleadoras; the ropes are covered with a fluorescent material and the balls have a so-called black light inside, so that the very fast movements can be easily followed when the lights in the hall go out. When you see such a dazzling show, you almost forget that a Boleadoras is actually a primitive hunting weapon.