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

[uncleshag]

All cats' development is seriously arrested.

I speak as one human owned by 43 cats.

[MoJo2001]

You don't know what you're missing!
Sheesh! Come on down!!

It's fun to be a space cadet. Just ask Ma.
Hehe!

Ma will probably pull that lame "go to the corner" stunt as usual.

[blackie]

Attacking Mt. Laundry builds character. :)

[aomagrat]

Today's classic warship, USS Edwards (DD-619)

Gleaves class destroyer

Displacement. 1,630 t.
Lenght. 348'4"
Beam. 36'1"
Draft. 17'5"
Speed. 37 k.
Complement. 270
Armament. 4 6", 6 .50 cal mg, 10 21" tt., 6 dcp., 2 dct.

The USS Edwards (DD-619) was launched 19 July 1942 by Federal Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Kearny, N.J.; sponsored by Mrs. Edward Brayton, widow of Lieutenant Commander Edwards; and commissioned 18 September 1942, Lieutenant Commander W. L. Messmer in command.

After brief service escorting convoys along the east coast and in the Caribbean, Edwards sailed from New York 8 November 1942 to join the Pacific Fleet. She joined TF 18 at Noumea 4 January 1943, to cover a large troop convoy bound for Guadalcanal. On 29 January they were attacked by a swarm of Japanese torpedo bombers off Rennell Island. Although most were driven off by the heavy accurate fire of the ships, enough broke through to put two torpedoes into Chicago (CA-29). Edwards with four other destroyers was detached to screen the damaged cruiser. On the following day, as the group sailed for Espiritu Santo, attacks continued. The destroyers put up a stout defense, but Chicago was torpedoed again and sank. Edwards rescued 224 of the 1,049 survivors. One of the other screening destroyers, La Vallette (DD-448), was also torpedoed; Edwards saw her safely to port before rejoining her task group.

Edwards returned to Pearl Harbor 27 March 1943 for overhaul, then set sail 16 April for the Aleutians. She saw action bombarding Attu 26 April, and as antiscreen for Pennsylvania (BB-38) during the landings of 11 May. The following day she teamed with Farragut (DD-348) for a relentless 10-hour depth charge attack on a submarine which attempted to torpedo the battleship. I-35 was forced to the surface and badly damaged by Edwards' guns before diving, only to be sunk finally by Frazier (DD-607).

Edwards continued to ply stormy Aleutian waters on antisubmarine patrol. In June 1943 she joined the blockade patrol which bombarded Kiska Island 2 and 12 August, and covered the landings on the 13th. After overhaul, she returned to Espiritu Santo in October for training.

On 8 November 1943 Edwards sailed to screen carriers in air strikes on Rabaul on the 11th. A flight of Japanese planes attacked her task group at noon that day; Edwards and her companions drove off or splashed every plane before it could injure any American ship. She screened the support force at Tarawa from 19 November, then escorted transports to Pearl Harbor on route to the west coast for a brief overhaul. On 3 March 1944 she arrived at Majuro off which she patrolled as well as screening strikes on Mili Atoll in the Marshalls and in the Palaus by carriers of the mighty 6th Fleet. In April she guarded the flattops as they launched air attacks on New Guinea in coordination with the Hollandia landings. Edwards also figured in the attack on Truk of 29 and 30 April.

From 12 May to 18 August 1944 Edwards' destroyer division formed the Eastern Marshalls Patrol Group. They patrolled off the Japanese-held atolls of Mili, Jaluit, Maloelap, and Wotje to keep the enemy from receiving assistance or evacuating. On 22 May she joined Bancroft (DD-598) to put several enemy batteries on Wotje out of action. Again off Wotje 27 June she ignored shore fire to rescue downed aviators drifting toward shore.

After overhaul in Pearl Harbor in August the veteran Edwards reported arrival at San Pedro Bay, Leyte, 30 October for patrol. She joined the assault force for the landings at Ormoc 7 December. Here she splashed several of the hard hitting air attackers as well as aiding ships they had damaged. A resupply echelon to Ormoc met similar opposition but drove off the planes and got the convoy through. On 11 December, she took aboard casualties from Caldwell (DD-605), set on fire by a suicide plane.

The doughty battle-hardened Edwards remained in the Philippines, shepherding supply convoys through to Mindoro, Lingayen Gulf, Polloc Harbor, and Davao Gulf. On 9 May 1945 she arrived at Morotai to distinguish herself during the invasion of Borneo, returning to Subic Bay 12 July. She made one voyage to Iwo Jima, another to Okinawa to escort convoys, then sailed 16 September for the States. On 7 January 1946, Edwards arrived at Charleston, S.C., where she was placed out of commission in reserve 11 April 1946. USS Edwards spent the next twenty-five years in the Atlantic Reserve fleet. Stricken from the Naval Vessel Register in July 1971, she was sold for scrapping in May 1973.

Edwards received 14 battle stars for World War II service.

[MoJo2001]

Good morning blackie!

Character building is a wonderful thing when it's in work in someone else.
It sure is a lot of hard work when it's you. LOL!

Did you have your French Roast yet?
*HUGS*

I need dessert!

[MeekOneGOP]

Thanks. You have a lovely day, too! :^D

[MoJo2001]

Women with Breast Implants Have Higher Suicide Risk
Health - Reuters ^ | Dec. 14, 2004 | Amy Norton

There goes my Silicone stocks.

This story is one that you file under "DUH".

[blackie]

Thanks for talking about food, I'm fasting today for tomorrows colonoscopy. :):)

[Diva Betsy Ross]

Secret? What for? Are you undercover? Ok SW.. what is it worth to ya for me to keep on the QT???
LOL!

[blackie]

I'm drinking a cup right now, I can only drink liquids until about noon tomorrow. :)

[MoJo2001]

Oh no! You're fasting today?
It's always a good time to pray as well.
At least that's what my mom told me when I was little.
While you're fasting, pray.

Anyhoo, if you're fasting. Then we will not speak of such
non-fasting activities again today.

Is everything okay? Prayers sent for a good visit tomorrow.

Prayers up everyone!

[stand watie]

it's a secret!

check your mail!

free dixie,sw

[Diva Betsy Ross]

This tune is NOT about our cute Stand Watie--- it is about the DOGG... Do not be confused...

LISTEN HERE!!!

To all- hit refresh if you get an error message!

[MoJo2001]

I'm glad you will be able to partake of liquids.
 

Prayers up everyone!

[beachn4fun]

Hey Sis. We were waiting for you to show up. After all, you are the Queen of Chaos! We don't want NOBODY to take your place! he...he....

[beachn4fun]

I second that!

[Lady Jag]

Nowadays I guess it just trial and error to find out what people have for fonts. Remembering way back when Microsoft had a list on its site of the fonts most would have who surf the web and the list was tiny.

[beachn4fun]

Auntie Fawnn's been late a lot lately. Is she staying up late like Ma?

[MoJo2001]

Have I found you yet or am I going to need some chocolate for this exercise?

Okay! Let's just pick a picture and we'll concentrate on calling him stand watie. LOL!

[MoJo2001]

I have a few fonts that I like to use. A few more that I like to store, but I am in no way a FONTS FANATIC. Don't believe a word anyone says in here about me and fonts. Hehe!