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

[MoJo2001]

MoJo's getting ready to leave everyone in here to collect some sanity before I return. LOL!

I'll load up some music when I get back or maybe now. Whenever this slacker works around to it. Hehe!

[beachn4fun]

Well, just step right on up little lady. There's plenty folks here to help you out. Just say the word. If no one has sent you a FReepmail with the info yet, FReepmail me and I'll give you the goods if you need it.

[Diva Betsy Ross]

How about a little

MONEY TALKS to listen to while you shop!!

[uncleshag]

Your in-vite goes without saying, MoJo.

Born a Sandlapper; Always a Sandlapper. You recall an old Tom T Hall song that went,

"Throw another log on the fire"?

We sing, "Throw another HOG on the fire"!

[Lady Jag]

They have yet to drag home the first bite of venison...

LOL! I wouldn't be surprised it they do!

I grew up in a small New England neighborhood that sat between two large dairy farms and neither of them knew exactly how many cats they had, though one appeared to have at least 65 while the other, with more dogs, only had a couple dozen.

With the cows below and the hay above, cats bred like mice, mostly in the dense, dark hayloft. One kitten I got from there look like a nocturnal animal with huge ears and humongous eyes. Named him Ichabod.

[reaganaut]

LOL. You forgot one though:

Heard on Dr. Laura:

"Men are simple, if we are not horny, make us a sandwich."

[Lady Jag]

That font is Parry Hotter. Want it?

[Lady Jag]

Whoa! 2048! Do you keep them on a separate HD? LOL! I have nearly 900 and thought that was a lot!

[MoJo2001]

 

 

 

It's a cross between a font and wingding. No! Not the name we call tomkow, but a wingding!

[uncleshag]

lol! Two are rather large, however, their strength, like Free Republics', is in numbers and coordination!

FReepin' Cats!

[MoJo2001]

I have about 15,000 or so on a DVD that I burned a few weeks ago. And I kept a few of my favorites. And then I just got a "few" more recently. Of course, I got some more today. Hehe!

[HiJinx]

Well, not quite that simple...

Add a fast Internet connection, and you've made us quite happy.

And with that, I'm going to go out and get some lunch!!!

[Lady Jag]

MONEY TALKS to listen to while you shop!!

Brilliant! Oh yeah!!! That'll get me rolling. THANK YOU!

[reaganaut]

There you go again, Star, ruining my fantasy. :)

[armyavonlady]

I just saw an article on cnn.com about a new song by Chely Wright which was inspired by a run-in she had with a woman because of a Marine Corps sticker on the back of her vehicle. Have any of you heard this? It's called "The Bumper of my S.U.V."

I've got a bright red sticker on the back of my car,
Says: "United States Marines."
An' yesterday a lady in a mini-van,
Held up her middle finger at me.
Does she think she knows what I stand for,
Or the things that I believe?
Just by looking at a sticker for the US Marines,
On the bumper of my S.U.V.

See, my brother Chris, he's been in,
For more than 14 years now.
Our Dad was in the Navy during Vietnam,
Did his duty, then he got out.
And my Grandpa earned his Purple Heart,
On the beach of Normandy.
That's why I've got a sticker for the US Marines,
On the bumper of my S.U.V.

But that doesn't mean that I want war:
I'm not Republican or Democrat.
But I've gone all around this crazy world,
Just to try to better understand.
An' yes, I do have questions:
I get to ask them because I'm free.
That's why I've got a sticker for the US Marines,
On the bumper of my S.U.V.

'Cause I've been to Hiroshima,
An' I've been to the DMZ.
I've walked on the sand in Baghdad,
Still don't have all of the answers I need.
But I guess I wanna know where she's been,
Before she judges and gestures to me,
'Cause she don't like my sticker for the US Marines,
On the bumper of my S.U.V.

So I hope that lady in her mini-van,
Turns on her radio and hears this from me.
As she picks up her kids,
From their private school,
An' drives home safely on our city streets.
Or to the building where her church group meets:
Yeah, that's why I've got a sticker for the US Marines,
On the bumper of my S.U.V.

[Lady Jag]

SWOON!

[MoJo2001]

 

 

 

You've given me an excuse to play with all the fonts I have. Hehe! Thanks beachie!!

[MoJo2001]

I have that song! I'll load it up when I get back from picking up my boys!!

Sure thing!

[shield]

A Tribute to our Armed Forces:

http://home.insightbb.com/~armedforcestribute/

[reaganaut]

I'm behind on posts. Valin, go to the corner!