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Slinging Rocks!
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i have read an old book, which, according to my copy, had it's sixth reprint in 1961, call 'the realm of the incas' by victor w. von hagen.
he discusses many topics regarding the incas, and has redrawings of pictures that were drawn by one of the spanish after they landed in peru. one pic is of the inca(as technically there is only one inca, the ruler, at a time) being carried and he is playing with a sling. in the book it is declared that all able bodied men or most all are expected to show up to fight in wartime, but the state kept and issued the weapons, which for the most part were: a mace type of blunt object for hand to hand, a short spear for close range and a sling. they also used a rock tied to a string. the state trained them in weapons use when they were of age but they did not carry them when not in war. at the end of the war, the state took the weapons back and stored them in arsenals located around the empire and the temporary soldiers went back to farming. the only full time armed military were the inca's personal body guards.(several thousand, perhaps as many as ten thousand.) it is a good little book. i have read my copy twice. perhaps if i have time i can post out some of what little is written about the sling parts of it, but as i do not have a scanner, it would be a chore. plus no way to post the redrawn pics. if any one wishes to read the book, pm me and i will freely send it to you as i have already read it twice. it is in rough shape but all there and very interesting.
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