Bone beads are pieces of bone which are shaped into
shotgun pellets. According to the traditions of some
native american tribes including the
Navajo, if a man is shot and the bone bead goes
underneath the
skin, the man will live a
cursed life (if he survives) until all the bone beads are removed from his body. This was one of the first instances of use of
nonlethal ammunition. Bone shot is less lethal than
lead shot, and was occasionally used by native american tribes when they wanted to make a point but didn't want to kill.
The same tactic is used in saltrock rounds, replacing a spiritual curse with the sting of salt on a wound.