FReeper Canteen ~ Part VI of The Mongols ~ December 14, 2004

www.coldsiberia.org ^ | December 14, 2004 | LaDivaLoca

[LaDivaLoca]

For the freedom you enjoyed yesterday...
Thank the Veterans who served in
The United States Armed Forces.

Looking forward to tomorrow's freedom?
Support The United States Armed Forces Today!

ANCIENT WARFARE





Part VI of The Mongols

cont'd Mongolian Bow: Fish Glue and Sinew

As we understand, a composite bow by definition has several layers. We have mentioned the birch frame, and the layer of horn/bone. In addition to this, there is a layer of specially prepared birch bark whose purpose is to protect against penetration of moisture. In addition to this is a layer of sinew, which is taken from deer, moose or other game animals. The tendons of domestic animals may also be used, but Mongols feel that tendons from wild animals like deer, moose and mountain sheep are the strongest and best. Naturally, the bow has to be glued together. The preferred and traditional substance used for the impregnation of both leather as well as their bows is fish glue. As a matter of fact, fish glue has been proven through millennia to be highly capable of resisting moisture. Moreover, it is durable and lasts longer than modern epoxy resins, which are prone to molecular fatigue. Above all, fish glue is available in all the waters of Siberia where fish is living, among them the greatest of them all, Lake Bajkal.

How is fish glue made? The process that yields the highest quality is to take swim bladders from freshwater fish, soak them into hot water to extract the protein substance, and then boil the resultant soup for a prolonged period. If sufficient quantities of swim bladders cannot be obtained, it is also possible to make hide glue by boiling animal skins. This latter method however results in a glue of inferior quality, because it absorbs moisture, whereas glue made from ichthyic air bladders is highly moisture-resistant.

Although all materials needed to build the Mongolian bow are to be found in the immediate natural environment, the whole production process is very complex. It takes a long time to build a bow that is to meet the Old Mongol requirements. We may also assume that the selection of the best wood material for the frame requires knowledge and experience.

The usual procedure in the production of a traditional Mongolian bow is as follows: The wooden frame is cured, and the horns and/or bone to be used are boiled for softness. This makes it possible to fit the different parts together with great precision. As we understand, high-quality Mongolian bowmaking is certainly a most impressive craftsmanship. When the wooden frame, and the horns/bone parts are ready, the sinewing can take place. First the tendons have to be dried. After that, they are crushed until they form a mass of loose fibers. Next, this mass is mixed with fish glue to form a solid but not rigid layer. It is important to apply the correct thickness and amount of sinew, and it is done in a two-stage process with some days in between. Too little makes the bow weaker, too much would make it stiff. When completed the layer of sinew could be as thick as a human finger before drying. Sinew has a peculiar quality: Unlike other materials, its strength increases when subject to stretching or impact. This form of elasticity is a property stemming from the molecular structure of the protein of tendons (collagen), and can be seen as another striking demonstration of the innate superiority of natural solutions and materials. When used in a Mongolian composite bow, the effect is that as the horn plates in the front snap back to their former shape, the sinew layer in front contracts in the same split-second, adding further acceleration to the shot.

At each stage, fish glue has been applied to secure all the parts. In the horns and wooden parts, the sides that are to be glued against each other are first grafted with a toothed special tool in order to give the strongest possible hold.

The last step is usually the applying of the protective birch bark layers, which are also boiled until soft, so ensuring a proper fit before glued to the finished bow. When the layer of birch bark has been added to the composite construction, the whole bow is wrapped tightly in ropes and placed in a form where it is allowed to dry and harden in room temperature for one year or more. This ensures that the bow becomes extremely strong and that it keeps its shape and snappiness even after many years of frequent shooting.

A Mongolian bow is stored in its own leather case, protecting the bow when not in use.

The String

No bow, no matter how powerful, can be shot without a string. Traditional Mongol bowstrings are made from animal hide. First every trace of fat is removed. Thereafter the hide is stretched and twisted. After this treatment it will not stretch, but remain taut. Although the skin of many fur-bearing animals can be used, horse skin is often preferred since it is said that this material maintains suppleness in the exceedingly low winter temperatures of Siberia and Inner Asia. It is also possible to use the intestines of animals as string material, but such strings are not water resistant and thus only suited for use in dry and hot weather.

Silk and cotton, and mixes of these, can also be used. Modern archers generally use dacron and other man-made materials that require high technology to produce and therefore cannot possibly be made by the archer himself. Here we see another example that the use of primitive materials, although demanding in terms of individual skills and work, is the more reliable and sustainable strategy when viewed in a wider perspective.

When the bow is strung, the archer may sit down, using both feet to press against the bow as the limbs were bent while the string was attached. Using another technique, he or she could also stand upright, bow bent under one leg while the other leg holds the outer end. On horseback, the Mongol archer routinely stringed the bow by placing one end of the bow between the foot and the stirrup while the arms pressed against the bow.

Source: http://www.coldsiberia.org/monbow.htm

Next Tuesday Part VII of The Mongols

[beachn4fun]

???

[StarCMC]

HOLMAN, GERALD ALLAN

Name: Gerald Allan Holman
Rank/Branch: O2/US Navy
Unit: Carrier Air Early Warning Squadron 12, Detachment 42, USS FRANKLIN D.
ROOSEVELT
Date of Birth: 10 October 1939
Home City of Record: Northville MI
Date of Loss: 14 December 1966
Country of Loss: South Vietnam/Over Water
Loss Coordinates: (none)
Status (in 1973): Killed/Body Not Recovered
Category: 5
Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground: E1B
Refno: 0548

Other Personnel In Incident: Edwin Koenig; Richard Mowrey (missing); 2 other
crewmen who were rescued.

Source: Compiled by Homecoming II Project 01 April 1990 from one or more of
the following: raw data from U.S. Government agency sources, correspondence
with POW/MIA families, published sources, interviews. Updated by the P.O.W.
NETWORK 1998.

REMARKS: AC DITCH - 2 SURV RESC, NT SUBJ - J

SYNOPSIS: The USS FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT was to end its second tour of
Vietnam to leave the battle area by Christmas, 1966. On board was the
carrier's early warning squadron of four aircraft, for which LTJG Gerald A.
Holman was administrative officer. On December 14, Holman was launched from
the carrier as the pilot of an E1B propeller-driven warning plane carrying a
crew of five. The "Willie Fudd" departed on a routine mission, when one of
the engines failed. Holman was forced to ditch into the South China Sea.

Two of the crewmembers survived the crash and were subsequently rescued.
Holman, LTCDR Edwin L. Koenig, and LTJG Richard L. Mowrey were not found.
The three were listed as Killed/Body Not Recovered. The accident was not
battle related.

The crewmen of the Willie Fudd are listed with honor among the missing
because no remains were found. Their cases seem quite clear. For others who
are listed missing, resolution is not as simple. Many were known to have
survived their loss incident. Quite a few were in radio contact with search
teams and describing an advancing enemy. Some were photographed or recorded
in captivity. Others simply vanished without a trace.

Reports continue to mount that we abandoned hundreds of Americans to the
enemy when we left Southeast Asia. While the Willie Fudd's crew may not be
among them, one can imagine their proud willingness to fly one more mission
to help secure their rescue.

[Arrowhead1952]

The bad thing today, is the wind blowing like crazy. Feels like the low 20s.

[beachn4fun]

Jinxie.....you are just so good to your Canteen FRiends! To go through all that trouble just for us. Hi little Ms. Piper. Aren't you looking lovely...............

[StarCMC]

I can just about guarantee he's playing for the wrong team!! LOL!!!!!!

[StarCMC]

I can just about guarantee he's playing for the wrong team!! LOL!!!!!!

[beachn4fun]

Valin was sitting at a bar enjoying an after-work cocktail when an exceptionally gorgeous & sexy young woman entered.

She was so striking that he could not take his eyes away from her.

The young woman noticed his overly-attentive stare, and walked directly toward him.

Before he could offer his apologies for being so rude, the young woman said to him, "I'll do anything, absolutely anything, that you want me to do, no matter how kinky, for $20 under one condition."

Flabbergasted, Valin asked what the condition was.

The young woman replied, "You have to tell me what you want me to do in just three words."

Valin considered her proposition for a moment, withdrew his wallet from his pocket, and slowly counted out four $5 bills, which he pressed into the young woman's hand.

He looked deeply into her eyes, and slowly, meaningfully said, "Paint my house."

[StarCMC]

The male population in AZ doesn't stand a chance - you better stock up on shotgun shells!! She's so gorgeous!!!!

[HiJinx]

Thanks...how's your new grandson doing? Any chance of a Christmas visit, or is it going to be long distance this year?

(Can you tell, I'm not anxious for the kids to move out. It's coming - soon - and I'm not ready!)

[HiJinx]

I know just what you mean. Her daddy has already started.

Have you noticed how we have had a really good lookin' bunch of Canteen babies born this last year?

[StarCMC]

	*JAMES, WILLY F., Jr. Citation: For extraordinary heroism in action on 7 April 1945 near Lippoldsberg, Germany. As lead scout during a maneuver to secure and expand a vital bridgehead, Private First Class James was the first to draw enemy fire. He was pinned down for over an hour, during which time he observed enemy positions in detail. Returning to his platoon, he assisted in working out a new plan of maneuver. He then led a squad in the assault, accurately designating targets as he advanced, until he was killed by enemy machine gun fire while going to the aid of his fatally wounded platoon leader. Private First Class James' fearless, self-assigned actions, coupled with his diligent devotion to duty exemplified the finest traditions of the Armed Forces.   *JERSTAD, JOHN L. (Air Mission) Rank and organization: Major, U.S. Army Air Corps, 9th Air Force. Place and date: Ploesti Raid, Rumania, 1 August 1943. Entered service at: Racine, Wis. Born: 12 February 1918, Racine, Wis. G.O. No.: 72, 28 October 1943. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty. On 1 August 1943, he served as pilot of the lead aircraft in his group in a daring low-level attack against enemy oil refineries and installations at Ploesti, Rumania. Although he had completed more than his share of missions and was no longer connected with this group, so high was his conception of duty that he volunteered to lead the formation in the correct belief that his participation would contribute materially to success in this attack. Maj. Jerstad led the formation into attack with full realization of the extreme hazards involved and despite withering fire from heavy and light antiaircraft guns. Three miles from the target his airplane was hit, badly damaged, and set on fire. Ignoring the fact that he was flying over a field suitable for a forced landing, he kept on the course. After the bombs of his aircraft were released on the target, the fire in his ship became so intense as to make further progress impossible and he crashed into the target area. By his voluntary acceptance of a mission he knew was extremely hazardous, and his assumption of an intrepid course of action at the risk of life over and above the call of duty, Maj. Jerstad set an example of heroism which will be an inspiration to the U.S. Armed Forces.   "If there be any glory in war, let it rest on the shoulders of men like these."   -- Audie Murphy   Thank you to every soldier, sailor, airman, marine and coast guardsman who has ensured that I have the freedoms I have today.  You are my heroes. You will not be forgotten.

Graphics and information  from the MOH website.

[StarCMC]

Conservatives are just cuter - what can we say?? LOL

[Valin]

Good question. One of your best!

[tomkow6]

Good morning, Star!

[Valin]

And she did a lousy job sigh well that's what I get for getting a blond.

[blackie]

Mongol party ~ Bump!

[blackie]

Part VI of The Mongols and treats with Tonk ~ Bump!

[blackie]

Good morning radu ~ ((HUGS))

[blackie]

Hot black coffee with Kathy ~ Bump!

[blackie]

Refueling ~ Bump!