Botto and Pima

The Botto & Pima is a weapons system of Central Africa. It was the Special Weapon of the Zande. The Botto bow is made from polished wood with a length of twisted sinex for a bowstring. It was about 4 feet long. The Pima arrows were 2 feet long and made from cane shafts with iron heads. The Botto did not have as much penetrating power as other similar sized bows, as evidenced by its inability to pierce the Jaguar's cotton armor. However, the arrows were tipped with Benge, a red powder made from a type of forest creeper. The Benge contains strychnine, which is commonly used as a pesticide.