FReeper Canteen ~ Part VII of The Mongols ~ December 21, 2004

www.coldsiberia.org ^ | December 21, 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 VII of The Mongols

cont'd Mongolian Bow: The Shooting

The Old Mongols have their own technique for shooting, known as the "Mongolian release." The Mongols, if right-handed, keep their bow in the left hand, pushes it forward as the right arm pulls the string all the way back to behind the ear. The left arm is now fully extended, and the release is near. However, now comes an interesting part. Since this bow has immense power, the Mongols have to use a special technique to hold the string during the drawing of the bow and before the arrow is released. The technique is as follows: The string is held by the thumb, since this is the strongest finger. Still, it is not easy to hold 166 pounds comfortably. Thus, the thumb is supported with the index finger curling around, placed atop the outermost joint, exactly at the base of the nail. The other fingers are also curled, forming a fist. Even so, this is not enough. Hence, the Mongols use a special ring on which the string is hooked before release. This thumb ring, a cylinder that fits around the outer part of the thumb and protects its pad from damage as the string is released, is typically made from Chinese jade or agate, but leather, metal and bone is also known to have been used.

Mongolian soldiers used to shoot while sitting on horseback, and with deadly accuracy. This was done by skilfully timing the shots to the moment when the hooves of the horse were in mid-air, so as to avoid disturbing the aim when they hit the ground.

The Arrows

Birch is a typical material for arrows too. The normal length of an arrow is between 80 and 100 cm, and the shaft's diameter is around 10 mm.

As for fletchings, tail feathers of crane are favored, but tail feathers of all birds are usable. Eagle feathers make a particularly exclusive arrow, but since eagles are rare most arrows obviously cannot have fletchings from eagle's tail feathers. Feathers taken from the wings are said to flow less smoothly through the air, so if given the choice tail feathers are picked. The Mongols characteristically pay close attention to minutest of details. The placement of the fletchings in relation to their size, and what part of the bird they were taken from, is of great importance for correct rotation and good balance in the air. Consequently these factors are painstakingly considered when making arrows after the Old Mongol standard.

The arrowheads, or points, could be everything from wide metal blades used for big game (or in war) to bone and wooden points, which are used for hunting birds and small animals. The high impact of this bow ensures that a bony point will be lethal when hitting the body of a smaller animal or a bird. In addition to these kinds of arrows, whistling arrows are useful during hunting, because the effect on animals of an arrow whistling away high above the ground is often to make it stop, curious to see what is in the air. This gives the hunter time to launch a second arrow, this time with a game head to kill the animal. How are these whistling arrows made? They are made by inserting an arrowhead of bone in which air channels have been created. When shot, such arrowheads make a very audible sound through the air.

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

Next Tuesday Part VIII of The Mongols

[judywillow]

Anybody wishing to buy one of these things should check this website out, although you might want to wait for the dollar to come back up a bit first. This guy makes and sells Turko/Mongol bows in a number of configurations wrt nationality and era. The heaviest bows he sells would be around 120 lbs. These bows are mostly of modern materials; it's not obvious to me that anybody could make a 120 lb. bow out of horn, wood, and sinew.

[TASMANIANRED]

What a lovely box of cookies, make them yourself? :-}

[luvie]

Mmmm! Everything looks so good and the fire and flowers make me feel cozy! Let me add some...
and some...

[MoJo2001]

I'm not sure whether they will be here for Christmas. I'm thinking they probably will. I guess it's up to Kimo as to when they leave.

It's their summertime there in NZ. So? They're bodies are probably geared for a December Heat Wave rather than a Snowstorm. UGH! LOL!

[TASMANIANRED]

That's a nice one bentfeather. Who else is going to be hanging out with me while I work Christmas Eve...

[MoJo2001]

Forget the bow. I'd rather have the hat the guys wearing. That's too cool.

[TASMANIANRED]

Night Tonk, I'll miss ya...

[TASMANIANRED]

Merry Christmas to you as well. Thank You.

[TASMANIANRED]

Are you going to get a dusting of snow or is it gonna SNOW.

Actually here in KY it scares the heck out of me when they say flurries. If they predict accumulation we gut a dusting, If they say flurries then get the shovel and the salt out it's gonna be a blizzard.

[TASMANIANRED]

Thoughtful addition. Frost on the windows today..

[MoJo2001]

I live by the water. (Not far away from it in Virginny.) We got a dusting this morning and they're calling for more of the stuff on Saturday!

[TASMANIANRED]

We had a little dusting on Saturday. My hounds love the snow. They were out trying to snap up the flakes.

Virginian by birth or adoption. It is a very beautiful state, I've visited many times in the past.

[Kathy in Alaska]

[luvie]

Frost on the windows today..

I don't know where you are, but it sounds frosty! I am in West Texas and they are promising us light snow by Wednesday and temps only up to like the mid 30's! Today it was 67*, so the contrast is going to really be felt! So this might be what we see later this week!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Thank you, ms feather, for the Canteen Blessing for the Troops.

[TASMANIANRED]

The low this morning was 6F. We are going to have a warming trend tomorrow. Might get up to the mid 40's. That warm for KY in the winter.

I have a brother in Austin. Met a girl when he was in the Navy and just stayed.

You guys don't see snow that often do you?

[luvie]

I don't know where you are...

NOTE TO SELF: Read all posts before asking dumb question! (see post#49)

[MikefromOhio]

LOL!!! yeah thats me....I think :)

Autograph? No one asks me for one, but I will get one for ya!!!

[luvie]

No, we don't. Maybe one per winter, and then it usually melts before the next day is over. Now, north of here in the panhandle, it is really cold! The saying is that the only thing between there and the arctic is a barbed wire fence! The bad part is that people absolutely go nuts on the roads when it gets snowy or icy and fender-benders keep the repair shops hoppin' afterwards!

[TASMANIANRED]

Not a problem....

I visited Louzianna in December 1963, There was snow down south. A freak snow and ice storm. It took a solid hour to cross the Mississippi over the bridge. Traffic was awful.

We don't have a significant snow here often enough for people to really get good at driving in snow..