These tribal warriors are willing to fight for foreign powers, but at a price. The bow is a practical tool: it puts food in bellies as well as killing enemies. A skilled bowman can stalk his prey (man or beast) in utter silence, before killing with a well-aimed shot of a broad-headed arrow, designed to cause massive bleeding. In the time it takes to fire and reload a musket, a good bowman can fire half a dozen aimed shots, and probably have moved to better ground while doing so.