Oriental Bows - Stringing
with a sheathing that was very tough and elastic, and as smooth as glass
to the touch. This wrapping was, of course, applied before the feathers
were glued on.
So careful were the Turks in the construction of these arrows, that
even the halves of their nocks were made from wood with a natural curve
to suit the finished outline. It is possible, of course, they would not
otherwise have withstood the violent shock of the released bow-string.
It may be said that every inch in length of a Turkish bow or arrow was
named in a manner that could be recognised or referred to. In a general
way the parts of an arrow were known as follows :
The enlarged centre |
The stomach |
From the centre to the point |
The trowser |
From the centre to the nock |
The neck |
The Method of Stringing a Turkish, Persian or Indian
Bow
In these days no person I have ever heard of can string a strong Turkish
bow - diminutive as this weapon is - without much personal assistance,
or else by mechanical means, yet formerly the Turkish archer unaided could
do so with ease.
This he achieved by a combination of leg and manual power. (Figs. 6
and 7, p. 10.)
With the longer reflex bows, the Chinese for instance, this operation
is comparatively easy, as the hand can reach one end of the bow and draw
it inwards for the loop of the bow-string to be slipped into the nock.
The Turkish bow, being so short, necessitates a great effort of strength
on the part of the archer to bend it between his legs and, at the same
time, stoop down to fit the bow-string. From constant practice, the Turk
of former days knew exactly how and when to apply the muscular force of
leg and arm necessary to string his bow - a performance that no modern
archer could accomplish with a bow of any strength.
Leg and manual force combined is the only possible method of stringing
a strong reflex bow, unless mechanical power is utilised : it was the hereditary
custom of the Orientals. In the operation, there is always the risk of
twisting the limbs of the bow, from a lack of the great strength of wrist
required to hold them straight during the stringing. If the limbs of the
bow are given |