treatise on turkish bows

8/11/2019 Treatise on Turkish Bows

1/27

ATREATISE

ONTURKISH

ANDOTHER

ORIENTAL

BOW

OF MEDEVAL

ANDLATER

TIMES

THETURKI SH

OWCONSTRUCTIONAND

DMENSI ONS

PAGE

3

THEBOWSTR NG

6

THERROW

7

THE

METHOD

OF

STRNGNGATURKISH PERSIAN

OR

INDAN

OW

9

THEHORN GROOVE

I I

THE

THUMB R NG

COMPOSI TE

BOW

OF VAR OUS

OR ENTAL NATIONS

THERANGEOF THE

TURKISHOW

9


2/27

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3/27

THE TURKISHBOWCONSTRUCTIONANDDMENSIONS

LENGTH of

bow

measured bef ore i t i s st rung f r om

end

t o end

al ong i t s

out er curve wi t h

a

t a p e 3 f t 9

i n

AAAAAf i g I

opposi t e

page

Span

of

bow

measured

bet ween

i t s ends

when strung

3 f t

2 i n

BB f i g

I

.

Lengt h of

bowst r i ng

z f t

i i

i n

Great est

wi dt h

of each armof bow

i

i n

Thi ckness

of each arm at a di st ance of 6

i n

f r om t he cent r e of t he handl e

of t he bow l i n .

Ci r cum er ence

of each arm

at

a di st ance of 6 i n f r om t he cent r e of t he

handl e of t he bow 3 i n

The

ar ms of t he

Per si an I ndi an and Chi nese composi t e

bows have a

wi dt h

o f f r om

I 2

t o

z

i n

and

t hough t he

span

of t hese

bows when strung

i s

f r om

4 t o

5

f t

and

more

t hey

do

not shoot a l i g h t arrow near l y so f ar as t he

s h o r t e r

narrower

and

i n

propor t i on

f ar

st r onger

and

more

e l a s t i c

Tur ki sh

ones .

The

strength of t he bow or

t he

wei ght t hat

woul d be r equi r ed on t he centre

of

t he

bowst r i ng t o pu l l

i t down f r om t he

bowt o

t he

f u l l l engt h

of t he

arrow

i s

i 18 l bs

Thi s

i s wi t hout t aki ng

i n t o

account t he

addi t i onal two

or t hr ee

i nches

t he

poi nt

of

t he

arrow shoul d

be drawn

w t hi n t he

bowal ong

t he horn

groove

.

Wi ght of bow

avoi r dupoi s 12-1

oz

Though I

have

c a r e f u l l y

exam ned over

f i f t y

of t hese

smal l

Tur ki sh bows

I

have

never seen

one

t hat

exceeded

I 4

i n

i

n

wi dt h

at

i t s

wi dest

p a r t

or

i f

measur ed w t h a t ape

al ong

i t s out er

curve

when unst r ung AAAAA f i g I

was

over 3

f t

1

i n

i n l engt h

Bows

t hat

a r e 4

or

5 i n

l onger

t han t he

di men-

si ons

here

gi ven

a r e

i nvari abl y

of Per si an or I ndi an manuf act ur e

and

are very

i n f e r i o r i n

t he

e l a s t i c i t y t hat

i s

r equ i s i t e f o r l ong- di st ance

shoot i ng

t hough

i n

decorat i on and const r uct i on

t hey

of t en cl osel y r esembl e Tur ki sh

bows

I n t he ver y power f ul

bows

such as t he one shown i n Fi g 15 p

21

t he t hi ckness at t hese par t s i s

f r om j

t o

; i n .


4/27

4

TH

TURKISH

BOWITS

CONSTRUCTION

The

bow

i s

c h i e f l y constructed of very

f l e x i b l e

hor n

and si new These

mat er i al s

wer e sof t ened

by

heat

and

wat er

and

t hen

l ongi t udi nal l y gl ued t o

a

s l i ght l a t h of wood,

varyi ng

f r om

s

t o

4

i n

i

n t hi ckness except

where

i t f or med

t he handl e of t he

bow ,

and

f r om

1

t o i

i n

i

n

w dt h

Thi s s t r i p of wood f or med t he

core

or

moul d

of t he bow,

and

ext ended at

each

of

i t s

ends

f or

3

i n

beyond

t he

s t r i p s

of

horn

and

s i new

t hat

wer e

f i xed

on

i t s opposi t e

s i des and whi ch s l i g h t l y over l apped i t

Fi g

2 p

5

.

The

pr oj ect i ng ends of t he wooden

s t r i p

wer e

enl ar ged

so as t o f o rm t he s o l i d

ext r em t i es

of t he

bow i n whi ch

t he nocks

f or

t he bow- s t r i ng wer e cut

CCf i g

3 ,

p 6

The two

curved horn s t r i p s whi ch

i n

part

compr i sed

t he

arms

of t he

bow

on

i t s

i ns i de face when i t

was

b e n t wer e cut f r om t he hor n of

a

buf f al o

or an

ant el ope, and

average about

4

i n

i

n

t hi ckness

The

t hi cker

ends

of

t hese pi eces

meet

at

t he

m ddl e

of

t he

handl e

of

t he

bowand

t h ei r tapered ends ext end

t o

w t hi n 3 i n of i t s wooden poi nt s

EE f i g

3 ,

p

6

The s i new t hat r epresent s the back of

t he bow

i s f r om

t he

great neck

t endon of

an

ox

or stag Thi s

was pr obabl y

shr edded l ongi tudi nal l y, and,

a f t e r

bei ng soaked i n

e l a s t i c g l ue

compr ess ed

i nt o a l ong f l a t s t r i p about

4

i n

t h i c k

whi ch

was f i r s t moul ded i n a

pl i abl e

s t a t e t o

t he wooden core

and

t hen

gl ued t o i t

I t t hus f or med t he

back

of t he

bow

when i t

was

bent

D

i g 3 ,

p

6

.

The

bark

of t he

cherry-tree, or thi n

l eat her or

s k i n was

next

gl ued

over

t he

s i new

t o

preserve

i t f r om i nj ury

and

damp Thehor n p a r t s or i nner face

of t he

bow

when

i t

was strung,

wer e not

cover ed

w t h bark or s k i n a f eat ur e of

t he

Tur k i sh

bow t h a t

t oget her w th i t s

smal l s i z e di st i ngui shes

i t f r om

t he

bows of I ndi a

and

other Or i ent al count r i es

.

I n

t he best

Tur k i sh bows t h i s

out er coat i ng of

bark, l e at her

or

s k i n

was

l acquered

a

b r i l l i a n t

cr i mson and

el abor at el y decorated

w t h gol d

t r a c e r y

t he

date

of

t he

bow

bei ng

al ways pl aced

a t one

of i t s ends

and

t he

name

of i t s

maker

a t

t he ot her

The

hor n

and

s i new the mat er i al s whi ch

r e a l l y

f o rm t he

bowand

gi ve i t

i t s

power and

e l a s t i c i t y may be

l i kened

t o

a

t ube,

t he smal l

centre of whi ch

i s

f i l l e d

w t h

wood Sect i ons,

f i g 2 opposi t e page

.

Though t he hor n s t r i p s whi ch f o rm t he b e l l y

or

i nner sur f ace when i t i s strung, o f aChi nese or

a

Tar t ar bow

ar e

nei t her covered nor decorat ed,

t he

great s i z e of t hese weapons e a s i l y di st i ngui shes them

f r om

t hose

of

Tur ki sh manuf acture

Fi g .

13

p 16.


5/27

THE

TURKISH

BOWITS

CONSTRUCTION

B

B

FIG2 SECTIONSOFA

TURKISHBow

Hal f

f u l l

s i z e

Sect i on

of bowat 6 i n

f r om

one of

i t s

ends

5

I I Sect i on of

bow at

hal f - way

bet ween t he centre of

i t s handl e

and

one

of i t s

ends

I I I

Sect i on

of bow a t t he centre of i t s handl e

whi ch i s here t hi ckl y

covered

w t h s i new

I V

Longi t udi nal

sect i on

of

bow at

hal f - way bet ween t he

centre

of

i t s

handl e and one of

i t s ends

Li ght shadi ng AAAA

The

compr es sed

s i new f ormng

t he back of

t he

bow

when

i t

i s

strung

Dark shadi ng

BBBB The hor n f ormng t he i nner

surf ace

of

t he bow

when

i t

i s

strung

Li ned

centres

The thi n l a t h

of

wood

t o whi ch

t he horn

and s i new parts

of t he bow

are

moul ded and

f i xed

The

t hi n wooden

l a t h

i n

pl aces

on l y - i n

t h i c k

bes t owed

no

strength

on

t he

bow

as

i t was

mer el y

i t s hear t or core

t o

whi ch

t he

t wo curved s t r i p s

of

horn

and

t he

l ong

band

of

s i new

wer e

gl ued

Fi g

3 p

6

.

As i t

woul d have

been

very d i f f i c u l t

and

t edi ous

t o

shape so

f r a g i l e a l a t h

i n one l engt h t o

s u i t

t he

out l i ne of t he

f i ni shed

bow

t h i s l a t h

was

al ways made

i n three

p i ec es

whi ch were f i t t e d together

a t

t h e i r

j o i n t s and

then

secured

w t h

gl ue

Fi g

3 .

Themddl e pi ece

f ormed t he cor e of t he handl e

of t he

bowand

t he other

pi eces

t he cor e of i t s

l i mbs

Fi g

3

The ext remt i es of

t he

two out er

pi eces of t he wooden

core wer e

enl arged

t o

f o rm

t he

strong

pr oj ect i ng poi nt s of t he bow

i n

whi ch

t he

nocks

f o r

t he

bowst r i ng

were c ut CC f i g 3 .


6/27

6

THE

TURKSH

OWTS

CONSTRUCTON

s

e

THEBOW

SRNG

E E

FI G

LONG TUDNAL PLANS

OF

THE PARTS OF A TURKISH

Bow

The three

pi eces

of

t hi n

wood

that

f or med

t he cor e of t he

bow

Sur f ace

vi ew The

two

out er

l engt hs

of t he cor e wer e

s t eamed i n t o

a curve

as

shown i n CCC

BBB

The

pi eces

gl ued

t oget her

Sur f ace

vi ew

CCC The pi eces gl ued t oget her

Si de vi ew

DDD The

s t r i p of

s i new that

was gl ued t o

t he c o r e

and

whi ch

f or med

t he back or out er surface of t he bowwhen i t

was

reversed

and strung

EE The t wo s t r i p s

of

nat ura l l y curved

horn

that were gl ued t o

t he

c o r e

and

whi ch

f or med

t he

bel l y

or i nner

surface

of

t he bow

when

i t

was

reversed

and

strung

TI LE

mai n

par t of t he bow st r i ng

was composed

of a

skei n

o f about

s i x t y

l engt hs of s t ron g

s i l k

and was

i ngeni ous l y knotted a t each

of i t s ends t o a

separate l o op

f or med

of hard

and

c l osel y t w s t e d

s i new

oop

and

i t s knot

i s shown i n f i g

4 opposi t e

page

These l oops coul d not f r ay or c u t as woul d

occur

i f they

wer e

made

of

s i l k

and

they

f i t i n t o

t he nocks

of

t he

bow The

l oops r e s t

when

t he

bow

i s strung

upon smal l

i vor y

br i dges f i g

1

p 2 whi ch ar e hol l owed out t o

r ecei ve

them

and

whi ch

i n

t h i s

way

as s i s t

t o

r e t a i n

t he

bow st r i ng

i n

i t s

pl ace

Though

these l i t t l e

br i dges

ar e not al ways

present

on

Tur ki sh bows

they

ar e

i nvar i abl y


7/27

THE

TURKSH

OWTS

OWTRNG

7

t o

be

f ound on

those of Per s i an I ndi an or Chi nese const r uct i on t h ei r greater

l ength requi r i ng the

assi st ance of

br i dges

t o

keep t h ei r bowst r i ngs

i n

a

correct

p o s i t i o n

I A l oop

and

i t s knot as f i r s t

f or med

on

one end of t he skei n of t he

bowst r i ng

11

The

l oop drawn

up, but not

t i ght ened

I 11

The

l oop

drawn

up

t i ght

and

i t s l oose ends secur ed

s shown

i n

111,

t he pr oj ect i ng

ends of t he l engt h of

si new whi ch

f o rm

t he l oop ar e

c ut

of f

t o

w t hi n

a

t hi r d of an

i nch

of t he

knot

They ar e

si nged

a t

t h e i r

extr emt i es

so

as

t o

f o rm

smal l bur r s whi ch pr event

t he shor t

l engt h of strong

s i l k ,

whi ch

l ashes them

FIG

4

ONE OF

THE

LOOPS OF HARD

AND

together

f r om

sl i ppi ng

o f f

CLOSELYTWSTEDSNEWWHCH

AREKNOT

The ends of

t h i s

l as t

smal l l ashi ng

TEDTO EACH

ENDOF THEMDDLE

PART

ar e l aced

beneat h

t he

wr appi ng of s i l k

RSKENOF

ATURKSH

BOWSTRNG

ScalScale

Haf

ful l

size

t o

be

seen

on

t he

skei n

near

t he

knot

i n 111

I n t h i s way t he knot of t he

l oop

i s

r i g i d l y secured

agai nst

any

chance

of

dr awi ng

when t he

bow i s i n

use

The

bowst r i ngs of al l Or i ent al

bows wi t h

t he except i on

of

t he

Tartar and

Chi nese wer e made

as

above descr i bed .

THRROW

LENGTH

of ar r ow 2

2

i n

t

o

2

4a i n

Wei ght of ar r ow

avoi r dupoi s 7 dr s .

or equal t o

t he

wei ght

of

two s h i l l i n g s

and a

si xpence

The

bal ance of t he

ar row

i s a t

2

i n f r omt he

end

of i t s

nock

Shape

of ar r ow ` bar r e l l ed,

and

much t aper ed f r om i t s

bal anci ng- poi nt

t o

i t s

ends

i t s

sharp

i vor y poi nt

bei ng

onl y

s

i n

i

n

di amet er

wher e

i t

i s

f i t t e d

t o

t he

s h a f t and

4

i n

i n l ength


8/27

8

TH

TURKISH

BOWITSRROW

The part of t he s h a f t t o whi ch t he

f eather s

ar e

at t ached

i s

3 / 1 6 i n

i n di amet er

and

t he cent r e of t he

shaf t s i n

Though

I

have

c a r e f u l l y

meas ur ed

and wei ghed

about

two

hundr ed

ei ght eent h cent ur y Tur ki sh

f l i g h t ar r ows

I

have

scarce

f ound

a

hal f dozen t hat

wer e

s

i n more

or

l e s s

t han f r o m

25 i n t

o

2 5 t

i n i

n l engt h

or

t hat

2 4

var i ed

by

even as l i t t l e as

I

dr f r o m 7 dr i

n

wei ght

I

n regard t o t h e i r

bal anci ng poi nt

t hese

ar r ows

ar e equal l y

e x a c t ,

as t h i s part i s i nvar i abl y f r o m

I

I 2 - i n

t

o 122 i n

f r o m t he nock

I t i s evi dent

t h a t

t he ol d Tur ki sh

f l i g h t

a r r o w

was made t o

a

st andar d

pat t er n t hat exper i ence showed

was

t he best f or l ong di st ance

shoot i ng

The

l i g h t

and

el egant l y shaped wooden

nock

of an ol d Tur ki sh a r r ow

f i g

5 ) i s

qui t e

unl i ke t he

cl umsy hor n

nock

of t he

modern Europeanone

The l a t t e r cannot w t hs t and t he

r e co i l

of t he

Tur ki sh

bow

and

soon s p l i t s

a p a r t ,

t hough

i n

t he

t housands

of

t i mes I

have

di schar ged

Tur ki sh

ar r ows

I

have

never

known one

t o

s p l i t at t he

nock

I t

wi l l

be not i ced

t hat

t he shape of t he

Tur ki sh

nock w th

i t s

nar row

ent r ance t hat spri ngs

apart

t o

adm t t he bow st r i ng

and

t hen

cl oses agai n

enabl ed an ar cher

even

on

hor se back

t o

carry

an

a r r o w

r eady f or

use

on

t he

s t r i n g

of hi s bow

A

The

but t

end of

t he ar r ow

w t h t he pr oj ect i ng

wooden

hal ves

of

t he

nock

shaped

and r eady

t o be

gl ued

t o t he shaf t

B The hal ves of t he nock

gl ued t o

t he s h a f t

FI G

j THE

CONSTRUCTI ON OF THE

NOCK

OF

TURKISH

ARROW

C, D

The

f eather s gl ued t o

t he

Scal e

Hal f

f u l l

s i z e .

shaf t

The

f eat her s

; ) of a Tur ki sh

f l i g h t

ar row

t hough s t i f f ,

ar e as th i n as paper

and

ar e

2

i n

l ong

and

4

i n

hi gh near

t he nock

Theywere

of ten made of par chment .

The dark

band

of

shadi ng t o

be seen r ound t he nock

i n

C and Di s a

wr appi ng of

f i n e

t hr ead l i ke

s i new Thi s si new a f t e r bei ng

soaked

i n hot g l ue ,

was

wound t o a

t hi ckness of

about

1 /

3 2 i n

al l over t he nock

and i t

t hus

hel d

t he

hal ves of t he

l a t t e r

secur el y

t o

t he s h a f t

When

dry t he

wr appi ng of s i new

was

cut out

where

i t

crossed

t he openi ng

f or t he

bow st r i ng I t never t hel ess

gave

a gr eat i ncr ease

o f

strength

t o

t he

th i n

pr oj ect i ng

hal ves

of t he nock

as

i t

cover ed

them

on t h e i r out er

sur f aces

B

Parchment f eather i ng

i ncr eases

t he

r ange

o f a f l i g h t

a r r o w

by a t l ea s t t hi r t y yards Ther eason of

t h i s

i s ,

t h a t par chment i s s o t h i n andsmooth that i t o f f e r s ver y s l i g h t f r i c t i o n a l r esi st ance

t o

t he

a i r ,

whi l s t

at t he same

t i me

i t i s

much

harder

as

wel l a s

much

moreunyi el di ng

t han

f eat her


9/27

ORI ENTAL

BOWS STRI NGNG

9

wi t h

sheat hi ng

that

w s

very t ough and e l a s t i c

nd

as

smoot h

as gl ass

t o t he

t ouch Thi s wr appi ng was

of

course

appl i ed bef or e t he

f eat her s were gl ued on

So

caref ul

were

t he

urks

i n t he construct i on of these

arrows

that

even

t he hal ves of t h e i r nocks wer e

made

f r om wood wi t h a natural

curve t o

s u i t

t he

f i n i s h e d out l i ne

t i s

pos s i b l e

of

course they woul d

not ot herwi se

have

wi t hst ood

t he

vi ol ent

shock

of

the rel eased

bowst r i ng

t may

be

s a i d

that

every i nch i n l engt h

of

a Tur ki sh

bow

or arrow

w s named

i n a

manner

that

coul d

be

r ecogni sed or

referred

t o I n a general

way

t he parts of an arrow

wer e

known

as f ol l ows

.

THE

METHOD

OF STRI NGNG

TURKISH PERSI AN OR

IND N

OW

I N

these days

no

per son

have ever

heard

of

can s t r i n g

a strong Tur ki sh

bowdi mnuti ve

as

t h i s

weapon

i s - wi t hout

much personal

a s s i s t a nc e

or

el se

by

mechani cal

means yet f ormer l y t he Tur ki sh archer

unai ded

coul d

do

so

wi t h ease

Thi s he achi eved

by

a

combi nat i on

of l e g and

m nu l power

Fi gs

6

nd

7

p

10

.

Wth t he l onger r e f l e x

bows

t he Chi nese f o r i nst ance t h i s

operat i on

i s

comparat i vel y easy as t he

h nd

can reach

one end

of t he

bownd

draw

i t

i nwards

f o r t he

l oop

of

t he

bowst r i ng t o be sl i pped i nto t he

nock

The

Tur ki sh bow

bei ng

so

s h o r t

necessi t at es

a

great

e f f o r t

of

strength

on

t he

part

of t he archer t o

bend

i t bet ween

h i s l egs

and

a t

t he

same t i me st oop

down t o f i t t he

bowst r i ng

Fromconst ant pr a c t i c e

t he Turk of f ormer days

knew

exactl y

how nd when

t o

appl y

t he muscul ar

force

of

l eg

nd arm

necessary

t o s t r i ng h i s bow a per f ormance that

no

modern archer coul d

accompl i sh

w t h

bow

of

ny

strength

Leg

and

manual

f orce combi ned

i s t he onl y

possi bl e

method

of

str i ngi ng

a

strong r e f l e x bow unl ess

mechani cal power

i s u t i l i s e d i t

w s

t he

heredi t ar y

cust om

of t he Ori ent al s I n t he

operat i on there

i s

al ways

t he

r i s k of

tw st i ng

t he

l i mbs

of t he bow

f rom a l ack of t he great strengt h of

wr i st

r equi r ed t o

hol d them

st rai ght

dur i ng t he str i ngi ng

f

t he l i mbs of t he

bow

are

gi ven

The

enl ar ged centre The

st omach

Fromt he centre

t o

t he poi nt

The

t r owser

Fromt he cent r e t o t he nock

The

neck


10/27

ORIENT L BOWS STRINGNG

t he

s l i g h t e s t

l a t e r a l

t wi s t as they ar e

bei ng

b en t t he horn parts

ar e

cert ai n t o

s p l i n t e r

and

t he

bow

i s then

usel ess and

damaged

beyond r epai r

The

d i f f i c u l t y of

r ever s i ng

and st r i ngi ng a

very s t i f f bowwi t h s uc h

a

r e f l e x

curve

that i t s ends

near l y

meet

bef or e i t

i s

bent

may be

i magi ned

De Busbecq t e l l s

us

that

some

of t he

Tur ki sh bows

wer e so strong

that i

a

coi n

was

pl aced under t he bow st r i ng a t

one end

of t he bow as

i t

was

bei ng

strung

no

one

but

a

t r ai ned ar c her coul d

bend

t he

bows u f f i c i e n t l y

t o

s e t f r e e

t he coi n s o t hat

i t

f e l l t o t he

gr ound

Fi g 6 shows an

Or i ent al

r e f l e x bow

bei ng gr adual l y r ever sed preparatory

t o

f i t t i n g

on

i t s bow st r i ng

Fi g

shows

a

s i m l a r bow

when

reversed

s u f f i c i e n t l y

t o i t i t s bow st r i ng

Though

t h i s

i l l u s t r a t i o n

i s f r o m

an

anci ent Geek

vase i t

w i l l

be

not i ced

that

i n

i t t he

power

of

t he

l eg

and

arm

i s

appl i ed

i n

prec i sel y

t he

same

way

as

i n

t he

more modern

exampl e

gi ven

t

The

onl y s a f e

method

f o r

a modern archer

t o

adopt i n

order to

s t r i n g a power f ul r e f l e x

bow i s

t o us e

strong

upr i ght pegs t he

s i z e

o f t ent pegs

i nsert ed i n smoot h ground

or

i n hol es i n a

boar d

t he

bow

res t i ng

duri ng t he process f l a t al ong

t he

gr ound or

boar d I nsert one peg agai ns t the i nner face of

t he

handl e of

t he

bowand

then p u l l t he ends of

t he

bow

back

by degr ees pl aci ng a

peg

behi nd

each

of

i t s

ends a s you

do so t o r et a i n them n thei r acqui r ed

posi t i ons

The

out er pegs canbe s h i f t e d t owar ds you as

t he bow

i s gr adual l y bent

f i r s t

a t i t s one end and then a t

i t s

other one F i n a l l y

when t he bow s

f u l l y

bent

t he

bow st r i ng

can

be

f i t t e d

across

i t f r omnock t o

nock

and

t he pegs removed

To

uns t r i ng the bow

grasp i t s

ext remt i es and wi t h t he pal m of

t he

hands

upper most

bend i t s l i g h t l y ac ros s the knee a t t he

same

t i me

s h i f t i n g

wi t h

t he

thumb

one

o f

t he

l oops of

t he

bow st r i ng

out

of

i t s

nock


11/27


12/27

ORENT L

OWTHE

THUMB RNG

The

Tur k as was

t he cust omof Ori ent al s

shot hi s arrow f rom

t he r i g h t -

hand s i de

of

hi s bow

as

shown i n

f i g

p 1 1. 1

The bow i s

here

represented as

f u l l y

bent

t he poi nt of t he arrow

bei ng

drawn

back al ong t he

groove

of t he horn

f o r a

coupl e of i nches

w t hi n t he

bow

The horn i s

attached

t o t he thumb by a smal l

l eat hern

c o l l a r

short

pl ai ted

cord

of

s o f t s i l k

i s

suspended

f rom

t he

f ore- end

o f

t he

horn and

i s

gr i pped

bet ween t he f i ngers

of

t he

archer

as

he

hol ds

t he

bow

Thi s cord

enabl es t he archer

t o

keep t he horn i n

a

l ev el

posi t i on

on hi s

hand

I t

i s

f i xed t o

a smal l

s t r i p of l eat her

whi ch

i s

gl ued

beneat h

t he horn

The horn i s usual l y of t o r t o i s e she l l

very

hi ghl y

pol i shed

I t i s f r om

5

t o

6 i n

l ong

1

i n

w de

4

i n

deep

i ns i de and

i n

thi ck

I t

i s

s l i g h t l y sl oped f rom

i t s

cent re of l engt h

t o each

of i t s

ends so

that

when t he arrow i s proj ect ed i t t ouches t he hard

and smooth

sur f ace

of t he horn

very

l i g h t l y

and

wi t h t her e f o r e

t he

l eas t

possi bl e

f r i c t i o n

t o

retard

i t s

f l i g h t

As t he horn groove i s onl y

one- s i xteent h

of an i nch t h i c k

t he ar row as i t

i s

drawn

back or shot f orward

may

be

sai d t o

f i t

cl ose

agai nst

t he si de of t he

bow

THETHUMB RNG

THETurk pul l ed hi s bowst r i ng

w t h

a r i ng of i v o r y or of

ot her hard

ma t e r i a l

f i t t e d

on hi s ri ght thumb

Fi g

g

p 13. I t s mani pul at i on

i s shown

on p

I t mght be supposed

that t he s t r a i n of t he

bowst r i ng on t he i vory

r i ng

woul d cause

t he edges of t he

l a t t e r t o i n j u r e

t he

f l e s h

and

si news of t he

thumb

;

t h i s

i s n o t

however t he

case

i n t he l eas t

I

f i n d

I can

bend

a

strong

bow

much

eas i er

and draw

i t

a

great deal

f a r t h e r

w t h t he Tur ki sh t humb- r i ng

than I

can

w t h t he

ordi nary

European

f i nger- gr i p

The rel ease

t o

t he

bowst r i ng whi ch i s best owed

by

t he smal l

and

smooth

poi nt

[ i n Tur ki sh l i p ]

of t he t humb- r i ng i s as qui ck

and

cl ean

as t he snap

of

a gunl ock when a t ri gger

i s

pul l ed

and

very

d i f f e r e n t

i n

f eel i ng

and

e f f e c t

f rom t he comparat i vel y s l ow

and

draggi ng act i on that occurs

when

t he

rel ease

t akes pl ace

i n

t he Europeanway f rom t he

l eat her- covered t i p s of three

f i ngers

To di scharge t he

arrow

fromt he

l ef t - hand

s i de of t he bow as

i s

t he cust om i n

al l European

archery

t he

l eather r i ng and t he grooved horn wi l l

have t o be f i t t e d t o

t he f i r s t

j oi nt of t he f o r e f i n g e r


13/27

The r ange of a f l i g h t arrowwhen shot

f rom

a

bow

by

means

of a

t humb-

r i ng i s al ways

much beyond

t hat of

an

arrow shot w t h t he three f i ngers

i n t he

usual manner

Wth t he t humb- r i ng t he

f eat hers

of

an

arrow can

be

pl aced

cl ose

t o i t s

nock as t he usual space

of about i - 1

i n need not

be l e f t on

t he

shaft at

t he

but t - end l e s t t he f i ngers

hol di ng

t he bowst r i ng shoul d crush t he

f eat hers

of

t he arrowa precaut i on t hat i s necessary

i n

al l

Europeanarchery

There

i s

no

doubt t hat t he cl oser t o t he

nock

t he f eat hers

of

an

arrow can

be

f i x e d t he farther and st eadi er

i t

w i l l

t r a v e l

The

handl e

of an

Engl i sh

bow

or of

any ot her bowt hat

i s

l oosed

w t h t he

f i n g e r s i s pl aced

bel ow

i t s cent r e so t hat t he arrowcan

be

f i t t e d

t o t he mddl e

of t he bow-st r i ng

a

poi nt

whi ch

i s

j u s t above

t he

hand

of t he archer as

he

grasps t he

bow

bow

hel d

bel ow

i t s cent re can

never

be pul l ed

r e a l l y

t r u e

t he l i mb

bel ow

t he handl e bei ng shorter t han t he one

above

i t

I n a

Tur ki sh bow

t he handl e i s

i n

i t s exact cent re of l engt h and t he pro-

j ect i ng

po i n t

or

l i p

of t he t humb- r i ng engages t he bowst r i ng c l o s e t o i t s cent re

For

t hese reasons t he bow i s equal l y s t r a i n e d each

of i t s l i mbs doi ng i t s

proper

share

of

work i n dr i vi ng t he

arrow an advant age t hat i s very not i ceabl e i n f l i ght - shoot i ng

and

woul d

probabl y a l s o

be at t he

t arget

I n t he

method

of

l oosi ng

used

i n

modern

t i mes

t he

bowst r i ng

l i e s

across the

three mddl e

f i n g e r s i t s

o u t l i n e where

t he arrow i s nocked

on

t he

s t r i n g t aki ng

t he fo rm

of t wo angl es connect ed by

a st rai ght

l i n e

2

t o 3 i n i

n

l engt h

Wth

t he

t humb- r i ng

t he bowst r i ng i s

drawn

back

t o

one sharp

angl e

cl ose

t o

t he

apex

of whi ch t he

nock of

t he arrow

i s f i t t e d so t hat every part of t he

s t r i ng

i s

u t i l i s e d

i n dr i vi ng

t he

arrow Fi g

12

p

I 4

The ease w th

whi ch

a

strong bow

can

be

drawn

w t h

t he

t humb- r i ng and t he e n t i r e absence

of

any

unpl easant

FIG URK

I SH

THUMB RNG

s t r a i n

on

t he t humb i s r emarkabl e Thi s proves how e f f e c -

scal e hal f

f u l l

t i ve

t he Or i ent al s t y l e of l oosi ng a bowst r i ng was

compared

s i z e.

w t h

t he one pract i sed

by European

archers

The

r i ng

was

usual l y of

i v o r y

i t s edges

bei ng

r ound

and smooth

where

t hey

came i n

cont act w t h t he ski n

of

t he thumb

cover i ng of s o f t

l eat her

was

somet i mes

gl ued

al l over t he sl opi ng out er

surf ace of the proj ect i ng l i p

of

t he r i ng

The

l eat her assi s ted

t he archer

t o hol d t he r i ng

f i rmy

w t h

h i s f o r e f i n g e r

s o t ha t i t

coul d not

s l i p under

t he

s t r a i n

of

pul l i ng

back t he

bowst r i ng

The

OR NT L

BOWS -THE THUMB-RING


14/27

4

OR ENTAL

OWTHETHUMB R NG

pro j ec t i ng

l i p of

t he r i ng best owed t he

l ever age

whi ch

enabl ed

t he archer t o

dr aw t he

bow st r i ng

of

a

power f ul bow

Thumb r i ngs of

s i l v e r

or

of agat e

were

often per manent l y

worn

by

Tur ki sh

ar cher s of

p os i t i on

bot h

f or

or nament

and f or

use

These

r i ngs

wer e

f i n e l y pol i shed

and

f r equent l y i n l i d

w t h

gol d

THE

TURKISH

THUMB R NGAND

I TS

MANPULATION

FIG 10. FIG

12

Fi g i

o The

posi t i on

of t he

hand

when

t he ar row i s

f i r s t

f i t t e d

t o

t he

bow st r i ng

t he

l t t e r bei ng

hi t ched

behi nd

t he l i p of t he

t humb r i ng The nock

of t he

ar row

shoul d be

cl ose

agai nst

t he

l i p

of t he

r i ng

and

hence

w t h i n

about an

ei ght h of

an

i nc h of t he angl e

f or med i n

t he

bow st r i ng when

i t

i s

f u l l y

dr awn

as

shown

i n f i g

2

Fi g

t

1

Vi ew of t he

t humb

w t h t he r i ng

A i n posi t i on

preparatory

t o cl osi ng

t he

f or ef i nger and

thumb

[ B Sect i on of

t he

bowst r i ng

as

hi t ched behi nd t he pr oj ect i ng l i p of t he

r i n g

C

The base

of t he f o r e f i ng er or t he par t

of

i t

whi ch presses t i g h t l y

over

t he

sl opi ng

surface

of t he

l i p

of t he

r i ng

i n

front

of

t he bow st r i ng

when t he

bow

i s bei ng bent ]


15/27

ORENT L

OWTHE

THUMB RNG

1

5

Fi g

The

base of t he

f or ef i nger

pr essed agai nst t he

r i n g ,

t he

hand

o s ed, and

t he bowst r i ng

and

ar r ow bei ng

drawn back by

t he

t humb- r i ng

I t

shoul d be

not ed

that no par t of t he hand i s u t i l i s e d

i n hol di ng t he r i ng

d

i n

dr awi ng

t he bowst r i ng, except t he

thumb and

t he base

of t he f or ef i nger

When t he

pressure

of t he f or ef i nger i s t aken o f f t he r i ng by

separ at i ng

t h i s

and

t he

t humb

t he

bowst r i ng

i n s t a n t l y p u l l s

t he

l i p

of

t he

r i ng

s l i g h t l y

orward, and

at

t he

samemoment s l i p s o f f

i t wi t h

a

sharp c l i c k

The

archers

of ot her

Or i ental nat i ons

besi des t he

Turks

empl oyed

t humb-

o f

var i ous

shapes and di mensi ons t o

s u i t t he constr ucti on of

t h e i r bows,

ow- st r i ngs and ar r ows Al l

t humb- r i ngs

wer e, however , more or l e s s

s i m l a r ,

d

wer e al l used i n t he

manner

I have descr i bed

I t

i s

i ndeed,

i mpossi bl e

t o shoot an ar row

by

means

of

a

t humb- r i ng

as I have shown,

and as a

very short

pr a c t i c al t r i a l

w i l l pr ove

I f

t he r i ng

i s

appl i ed

i n

any

ot her

way

i t

ei t her

f l i e s

o f f

t he

hand

when

t he

ow- st r i ng i s

r el eased

; t he

thumb

i s

i nj ur ed

; or t he bowst r i ng

escapes

f r om i t s

ol d when onl y

p a r t i a l l y drawn

I n one of t he

Tur ki sh

manual s

on

Archery

t r ansl at ed by Baron

Pur gst al l

p 22 , many

i l l u s t r a t i o n s

ar e

gi ven

of t he const r uct i on of t he Tur ki sh

composi t e

b u t , unfor t unat el y,

mnor d e t a i l s ar e omt t ed,

t hough

doubt l ess t hey

er e common knowl edge when t he Ottoman aut hor

wr ot e

Wt hout these

d e t a i l s

t he

correct

f or mat i on of t he

bow

cannot be ascer t ai ned

he chi ef

omssi ons ar e

i ) The composi t i on

of t he very

strong and e l a s t i c

gl ue

i t h

whi ch

t he

parts

o f

t he

bow

wer e

so secur el y j oi ned, 2) The t r eat ment of t he

s i new

whi ch f or med

t he back of t he

bowwhether f o r i n s t anc e ,

i t

was

l ued on i n

shor t

shr edded l engt hs or

was

at t ached

i n

one s o l i d s t r i p

Al l weknow

i s

t hat

t he

s i new

was t aken

f r omt he

Li gamentum

Col l i

of

an

or s t a g , a

very

power f ul

and

e l a s t i c

t endon whi ch

contracts

or

expands

as

t he

mal r a i s e s or l ower s i t s head

t o

f eed or dr i nk

When

t he

si new

whi ch

compr i ses t he

back, or

out si de when

i t i s

st r ung,

of

Tur ki sh

ow however

o l d

i t

be i s di ssol ved

i n

hot

water ,

i t

di si nt egr at es

hundr eds o f shor t pi eces

of f r om

t o

3

i n

l ong

and

about

i n

i

n di ameter ,

as

d u c t i l e

as i ndi ar ubber

and

al most

unbr eakabl e by

hand

The

component

parts

of

a Tur ki sh bow, consi sti ng

of

a t h i n s t r i p

of horn,

of wood

and

anot her of s i new

f i g p 6 ) , ar e so p l i a b l e when

separated

at

they

can

al most

be

c o i l e d

r ound

t he

f i n g e r s ,

t hough

i f

t he

same

pi eces ar e

ued

t ogether

they

f o rma bowof

unr i val l ed

strength

and e l a s t i c i t y


16/27

16

ORENT LOW

Scal e

One i nch=one oo t

Fi G

3

FI GS

3

4

TH

COMPARATI VE D MENSI ONS

OF REFLEX COMPOSITE

OWS O V RIOUS

NATIONs. The structure

of

l l

these

bows

i s

s im l a r i n

t hat

t hey

ar e

composed of si new wood

and

hor n

i si newon

t he

back of

t he

bow


17/27

c l e One

i nch

one t

ORIENT L OWS

PERSIAN

UNSTRUNG

PERSIAN

STRUNG

INDAN

UNSTRUNG

INDAN

STRUNG

TURKISH

UNSTRUNG

TURKISH

STRUNG


18/27


19/27

THER NGE

OF

THE

TURKSH

OW

I N 1795

Mahmoud

Ef f endi

Secretary

t o t he Tur ki sh

Am

bassador

i n

London

shot a

252

- i n

f l i g h t arrow

8o

yards The bow

he

used i s

s i m l a r

t o

t he

one

shown

i n

f i g 1

p

2 and i s

nowpre

served

i n

t he Hal l

of t he

Royal Toxophi l i t e

Soci et y

Regents Park

Mahmoud

Ef f endi

ac

compl i shed

t h i s

f eat whi ch

was c a r e f u l l y

v e r i f i e d at

t he

t i me i n

t he

presence

of a

number

of

wel l known

mem

ber s of t he

Toxophi l i t e

Soci ety

of t h e day i ncl udi ng

M

T

War i ng

t he aut hor of a

work

on

Archery

J oseph S t r u t t t h e

h i s

t o r i an

was a l s o a

spectator

and

descr i bes

t h e

i nci dent

i n

h i s

book

e n t i t l e d

`The Sports

THE

UTHOR

SHOOTINGWTH

A

TURKISH

ow

and

Past i mes of t he

Peopl e of

Engl and

I t

i s beyond quest i on that

i n

t he seventeenth

and

ei ght eent h c ent ur i es

w t h

bows

preci sel y

s i m l a r

t o

t he

one

shown

i n Fi g

1 but of muchgreater

power

f l i g h t ar r ows

wer e shot f r o m 600 t o Boo

yards by

cert ai n f amous Tur ki sh

archers

The

achi evement s

of these cel ebr at ed

bowmen were

engraved

on

mar bl e

There

ar e

many

country r esi dences i n Englanda t whi ch t he aut hor has made ver y l ong

shots w t h

abow

and

arrow

and

where

trees

have be en

p l anted

t o

mark

t he

di stances

Among

others

Gl ynl l i von

Park

Car nar von

;

Broomhead Hal l

Shef f i el d

; Onsl ow Hal l

Shrewsbur y ; Nor t on Pri ory Runcorn The

Hendr e

Monmouth

and Harpton Cour t

New

Radnor

may

be named


20/27


21/27

THE

TURKI SHBOWITS RANGE

Wth

t he bow

depi ct ed i n Fi g I I shot s i x arr ows

i n

successi on

t o

r anges

eedi ng 350

yards

t he l onges t

f l i g h t s

bei ng 360

365 and 367 yards

Thi s

l i c record

was est abl i shed

J u l y

7 t h

1905 a t an archery meet i ng

hel d

at Le

uet

near Et apl es

i n

France

The

gr ound

sel ect ed

f o r

t he

t r i a l

was

per-

t l y l e v e l there

was no

w nd

and

t he di s tances

wer e

accur at el y

meas ur ed

by

wel l - known

members

of

t he

Royal

Toxophi l i t e

Soci et y

who

wer e

present

Wth

t he

same bow

I

have i n pri vat e pr a c t i c e t h r i c e

exceeded

415 y a r d s

on one occasi on reached 4 yards

Though

t h i s

bow

i s

a

power f ul

one f o r a modern

archer

t o dr aw

i t

i s

a

r e

pl aythi ng compar ed

w t h ot her Tur ki sh bows of t he

same l engt h

but

of

gr eat er

strength

whi ch I possess

Some of

t he l a t t e r a r e so curved i n t h e i r unst r ung s t a t e t hat t h ei r ends

ar l y

meet and a r e so

s t i f f when

strung

t hat I cannot

draw

them

t o

more

t han

FIG

15

SKETCHOF A

VERY POWERFUL

TURKISH

BOW

WTH

I TS ARROW

ANDBOWSTRING

2

1

l f

t h e

l engt h of a

25

i n

arrow

Fi g

15

shows

a bowof

t h i s

ki nd

i n

my

Such

bows

as t hese requi re

a

pul l of 150 t o 160 l bs

t

o bend

them o t h e i r f u l l

whi ch qui t e

account s

f o r

t he mar vel l ous but wel l

aut hent i cat ed

di st ances

t ai ned

i n

f l i g h t s h oo t i n g

by

t he

muscul ar

Tur ki sh

bowmen of

bygone

days

Though

367

yards

i s

a shor t r ange

i n

compar i s on w t h t hat

whi ch t he best

r ki sh

archers wer e

f ormerl y

capabl e of

obt ai ni ng

i t i s

so

f a r

as

known much

I

present ed

t h i s

bow

and

some

of

t he

arr ows

I

used

at

e

Touquet

t o

t he

members

of

t he

Royal

xophi l i te Soc i et y These are nowpreserved i n t he c l ub

house

of t he Soci et y i n Regent s

Park t he

f i n e

l l of whi ch cont ai ns an unri val l ed c ol l e ct i o n of archery i mpl ement s and c u r i o s i t i e s


22/27

22 THE

TURKISH

BOWITS RANGE

i n excess of t he

di st ance any

arrow has been shot f rom a _bow

si nce

t he

o f t -

quoted

f e a t of

Mahmoud Effendi i n

1795,

p

9

Ful l cor roborat i on

of t he wonder f ul

f l i ght - shoot i ng

of t he

urks

may

be

f ound

i n

som

t r eat i s es on

Otoman archery whi ch have been t ransl at ed

i n t o

German by aron

Hammr-

Purgstal l Vi enna

1851

I n hi s di recti ons

concerni ng

t he

s el ec t i o n

of

sui t abl e

bows and

ar r ows

f o r

t he

s p o r t one of

t he

Tur ki sh

aut hor s

quot ed by

Purgstal l wr i t es - : `

The

t hi nnest

Angl i ce

Bal l oon feathers

TURKSH

CAVALRY

SOLDERSWTH

THEIR

BOWS

From

an

i l l umnated Turki sh MS

n t he

Sl oane

Col l ecti on B.M dat ed 1621, 5258

hese

r eproduct i ons pl ai nl y

showhow

smal l

was t he s i z e o f t he

bowf ormerl y used

i n warf are

by

Turki sh

s o l d i e r s

and l ongest

f l y i n g arrow has whi t e swan feathers shaped

l i k e

l e av es

and

t h i s

arrow

w t h

a good s h o t

carri es f rom 1,000

t o

1,200

paces

The

or t hodox l engt h

of

a

pace s t h i r t y

i nches

and

thus

even

1 00o

paces

or t he

l es s er

range ment i oned woul d exceed B00

Engl i sh

yards

Augi er

Ghi sl en

de

Busbecq 1522-1592 , a Bel gi an aut hor

and di pl omat i st

descr i bes t he

Tur ki sh archery

he

w t nessed when ambassador t o t he

cour t of

Sol yman

and

t he wel l - ni gh

i ncredi bl e

di st ances

t o

whi ch

he

saw

ar r ows

propel l ed


23/27


24/27

THE R NGE

O

THE

MED EV L CROSS OW

27

or even f o r t ar get - shoot i ng, as i t

woul d

br eak

t o

pi eces

on s t r i ki ng any

at er i al t hat was more

r e s i s t a n t

t han s and or s o i l

London

7 9

.

ear

Br ot her , - I

have j ust been t o see t he secr et ar y of t he Turki sh

bassador

shoot i ng w t h

Wari ng

and

ot her

f amous

Engl i sh

bowmen

her e was a gr eat cr owd, as you may suppose, t o see them TheTur k,

regard-

es s of t he many persons

st andi ng

r ound hi mand

t o

t he amazement and

t e r r o r

f t he Toxophi l i t es, s uddenl y began f i r i n g hi s ar r ows up i n

al l

di r e c t i o ns ,

but

t he

t oni shment of t he companywas i ncr eased by f i ndi ng t he ar r ows wer e not

made

o

f l y but

f e l l

har m es s l y w t hi n a f ew

yar ds

These

ar r ows

t he Turk

c al l ed

s exer ci si ng ar r ows . Thi s

was

an i dea t hat was

qui t e new

t o t he bowmen

and t hey began

t o

have more respect

f o r

t he Turk and

hi s bow

The

r k s bowi s made of ant el opes

hor ns

and

i s s h o r t , and pur posel y made

short

or

t he conveni ence

of

bei ng

used i n al l di r ect i ons on

hor seback

The Toxophi l i t es w shed t o

s ee

t he power s of

t he Tur ki sh

bow and

t he

ur k

was

asked

t o

shoot one of hi s f l i g h t ar r ows He shot f our or

f i v e ,

and

t he

f l i g h t was ver y c ar e f u l l y

meas ur ed

at

t he t i me

I t

was

482

yards

The

oxophi l i t es

wer e

ast oni shed,

I can t e l l you

`Wari ng s ai d t he f ur t hest

di st ance at t ai ned

w t h

an

Engl i sh f l i g h t

a rro w

f

whi ch

he had

ever

hear d, was

335

yards,

and that Lord Ayl esf or d had once

ot one, w t h a

s l i ght

w nd

i n

hi s

f avour , 330

yar ds

Wari ng

t o l d

me

that he

i ms el f , i n

al l

hi s

l i f e

had

never

been

abl e

t o

send

a

f l i g h t

arrowabove

283

yar ds

`The Turkwas not s a t i s f i e d

w t h hi s per f or mance, but decl ar ed that he and

s bow

wer e

s t i f f and out of condi t i on,

and

that

w t h some pra ct i c e

he coul d

much f ur t her

than

he had j ust done

He

s ai d,

however , that

he

never

was a

f i r s t - c l a s s

bowman

even

when i n

s best pr a ct i c e, but that t he

pr esent

Grand

Sei gneur was ver y f ond of t he

e r c i s e

and a ver y strong man, there

bei ng

onl y

two

men

i n t he whol e

Tur ki sh

my

who

coul d shoot an

a r r o w as

f ar

as

he

coul d

The

Turk

s ai d

he had

seen

t he

Grand

Sei gneur

send

a

f l i g h t

a r r o w

oo yards

I

asked

Wari ng

t o what he

at t r i but ed

t he Tur k s great

super i or i t y over

ur

Engl i sh

bowmen ;

whet her

t o hi s bow

or

not

Wari ng

r epl i ed

he

di d not

si der

i t

was so much t he r e s ul t of t he Tur k s bow but

rather

of hi s

strength

s k i l l c ombi ned w t h t he shor t l i g h t ar r ows

he

used,

and

hi s

method of

ot i ng themal ong t he gr ooved horn

attached

t o hi s arm

`Nei t her

Wari ng

nor any of t he Toxophi l i t es pr esent , and many t r i e d , )

ul d

bend

t he

bow

as t he

Turk

di d

when he used

i t

TWar i ng,

aut hor of

a Treati se

on Archery,

1s t ed 1814,

l as t

ed

1832

Wari ng

was an accompl i shed

andawel l - known manuf act ur er

of bows

and

ar r ows


25/27

So much

f o r

t he

t r i umph

of t he I n f i d e l s

and

t he hum l i at i on of

Chri st endom `Yours

a f f

.

FR NKL N

To

Si r

Thos

Frankl and

Bt .

MP

Thi rkl eby Park

TROSS OW

I

f ound

t he f ol l owi ng

i n

a

manuscr i pt

not ebook

of

1798

descri bi ng

f e a t s

and

i nci dent s

of archery

c o l l e c t e d by

t he

reci pi ent of

t he above

l e t t e r

`Records of Tur ki sh

archery procured i n

1797

f r o m Const ant i nopl e

by

Si r Rober t A i n s l i e a t t he

request of Si r

J oseph Banks and

t ransl at ed

by

Si r Rober t A i n s l i e s i nt erpret er .

`The Turks

s t i l l have det achment s

of

archers

i n

t h e i r armes

mer el y

not

t o

devi at e f r o manci ent cust om f o r

i n

Turkey

archery

i s

nowmer el y

regarded as

an

amusi ng

exerci se

that

i s

t o

t h i s

day

practi sed

by

al l

ranks

of

t he peopl e

The Ottoman

emperor s

wi t h

t he i r c o ur t

often

enj oy

t he di versi on

of

archery i n

publ i c and

there i s an ext ensi ve pi ece of ground

a l l o t t e d

t o

that

pur pose

Thi s pl ace i s

upon

an em nence

i n

t he

suburbs

of t he

c i t y

of

Const ant i nopl e

and commands

an

ext ensi ve vi ew of t he t own and

harbour I t i s c a l l e d Ok

Meydan or t he

Pl ace

of t he

Arrow The

ground

ment i oned

i s

covered

wi t h

mar bl e

p i l l a r s erected i n honour of t hose archers who have

succeeded

i n shoot i ng

arrows

t o

any

r emar kabl e

di st ance

Each

p i l l a r

i s

i nscr i bed

wi t h

t he name

of t he person

whose

dext eri t y i t records t oget her wi t h some compl i ment ar y

verses

t o hm

nd

t he

exact range

whi ch

he

at t ai ned

wi t h

hi s

f l i g h t

arrow

The

Ottoman

emperor s f r o manci ent t i mes

have

been al ways supposed

t o

l i v e

by

t h e i r

manual l abour

and

i n consequence

of

t h i s

supposi t i on

they have

each

l e a r n t

some

a r t or

prof essi on

most of themhavi ng pref er r ed t he a r t

of

maki ng

bows and ar r ows

The

present emper or

was bound

apprent i ce

t o t he t rade of archery

and

a t

t he t i me

he

was

r ecei ved as

a mast er

i n t h i s t r a d e

he

gave

on

d i f f e r e n t

occasi ons

very spl endi d

publ i c

ent er t ai nment s a t

t he

OkMeydan

where

t he

State

t e n t s were

pi t ched f o r

hi mand

hi s court

The Tartar bows ar e pr ef er abl e t o

those manuf act ur ed i n Turkey

as t he

f or mer

are t he

l arger

and

stronger t hough there

i s

now

an

ext ensi ve factory

f o r

i mpl ement s

of archery i n Const ant i nopl e

c a l l e d Ok Z i l a r

or t he pl ace of t he

Ar r ow maker s

The

Tur ki sh

bow

i s

f or med of a very strong

e l a s t i c

wood One si de of

t he

bow

i s covered

wi t h a

composi t i on made

chi ef l y of buf f al o

horn mel t ed

down

t h i s

i s

smoot hed

wi t h a

f i l e

t o a

proper

shape

and

f or ms

t he

concave

s i d e

of t he bowwhen i t i s bent


26/27

THE

R NGE

OF THEME EV L

CROSS OW

9

The convex

s i de

i s

p l a i n wood,

pai nt ed, varni shed

and

r i c h l y

g i l t

The

w

i s onl y bent

when i t i s about

t o be

used, and

t hen

i t

i s

bent w t h

much

o n t he heat

of

f i r e

bei ng al ways f i r s t

empl oyed

t o make

i t

f l e x i b l e

The

Tur ki sh bow

w i l l

penet r at e,

w t h an

or di nary arrow

a

hal f - i nch

pl ank

over

10o y a r d s

t he head

and shaf t of

t he

arrow

passi ng

f o r

t hree

or

f our

ches

t hr ough

t he

wood

ansl at i ons

of

t he

i n s c r i p t i o n s

on some of t he

mar bl e

col umns

at t he

Ok Meydan

Pl ace

of t he

Ar r ow ,

whi ch wer e

erect ed

i n honour

of t hose

who have

e x c e l l e d i n

archery

k S i r a l y Mustapha ga

shot

two

ar r ows bot h of whi ch

t r a v e l l e d t o a di s t ance

of

625 yards

2 .

Omer

ga

shot an arrow

t o a

di st ance of

628

Sei d

Muhammed

Ef f endy, son- i n- l aw

of

Sher bet zy

Zade 6 o

4

Sul t an Murad

685

5

Hagy

Muhammedga

shot

an

arrow

729

6 Muhammed

Ashur

Ef f endy

shot

an

ar r ow whi ch f i x e d i n

t he

ground

at

759

7 hmed Aga,

a

gent l eman of t he

Seragl i o

under Sul t an

Sul ei man t he Legi sl at or, shot an arrow

76o

8

Pashaw

Ogl ee Mehmed

shot

an arrow

762

9 The present

Grand

Admral

Hussei r

Pashaw

shot

an

arrow

whi ch drove i n t o

t he gr ound at

764

.

P i l a d

a

Treasurer

t o Hal l i b Pashaw

805

1 .

Hal l i b ga

810

.

The rei gni ng Emperor Sul t an

Sel i m

shot

an arrow whi ch

dr ove i n t o

t he

ground

at a

di st ance of

838

The Sul t an

shot

a second

arrow t o

near t he

same

di st ance .

I n t he

t r a n s l a t i o n

of t he

above

f rom

t he

Tur ki sh l anguage,

t he

f e e t

i nches ar e

al so gi ven

f o r

each

s h o t

but t hese have

omtted

as

unnecessar y

I n t he manuscri pt ,

t he

i nt erpret er r emar ks

t hat

t he

measur ement s of

t he

anc e s on t he mar bl e

col umns at

Ok

Meydan

ar e i n

p i k e s

t he pi ke

bei ng

Tur ki sh

meas ur e

of a

l i t t l e

over

t wo f e e t e a s i l y

conver t i bl e

i nt o Engl i sh

f e e t

and i nches

tw i l l

be obser ved t hat

t he l ongest f l i g h t r ecor ded

on

t he

col umns sel ect ed

quot at i on i s

838 y a r d s and t he s h o r t e s t 625

yards

Though t hese di st ances

al mos t t oo ext raordi nary

t o

be

t r u e

t hey

cor robor at e

i n

some

meas ur e

s t at ement

made

i n 1795

by

t he

secret ary, of

t he

Tur ki sh ambass ador , p

27


27/27

3

THE

ROSS OW

I f

t hey

ar e

c o r r e c t ,

they

can

onl y

be account ed

f or by t he use of a l i g h t

short

ar r ow, a ver y power f ul

bow, gr eat s t r engt h

and s k i l l ,

and, above a l l

e l s e , by

t he

horn

appendage

whi ch t he

Tur ki sh

archer

attached

t o hi s

l e f t

ar m

and

wi t hout whi ch

he

coul d

not shoot s o short

an

a r r o w

f r o m hi s

bow

I f

a very l i g h t f l i g h t

a r r o w

of reed

or

bamboo coul d

i n some

way

be

ar r anged

t o

r ecei ve

t he

i mpul se

of t he

t hi ck st r i ng

of a crossbow

wi t h

a

power f ul

s t e e l bow,

I

have l i t t l e doubt i t coul d

be

pr opel l ed hal f a m l e

I have f i t t e d a s a

separate

pi e ce a l ar ge hol l ow

hor n noc k over t he

but t

of t he or di nar y

f l i g h t

a r r o w of t he l ongbow, so that t he

l oose nock

rested

agai ns t t he s t r i n g of t he crossbow I n

t h i s

way

I

have

obt ai ned

several f l i g h t s

of f r o m

500 yar ds

t o 515

yar ds

I n t he case

of

a

short and very

l i g h t

f l i g h t i n g

ar r ow,

however ,

t he

r e c o i l

of t he

s t e e l bow

shi ver s

i t t o pi eces

as i t l eaves

t he st ock of t he cr oss bow

ven i f we

ac cept onl y

t he short est

r ange

recor ded on

t he col umns

as c o r r e c t - i

. e

625 ya r ds - i t i s an

extr aor di nary di st ance f o r anyarrowt o be pr opel l ed, and

much exceeds, as

f a r

as we know

what

has

ever

been done by an

Engl i s h

bowman

wi t h

a l ongbow

I t i s

however ,

beyond

questi on t h a t

t he secretary

t o

t he Tur ki sh mbassador di d s hoot an arrow482 yar ds

t he

a r r o w

and

bow

bei ng even

now

preser ved i n

t he Toxophi l i t e Soci ety s r ooms) , t hough he

decl ared

a t

t he

t i me of t he

occurrence

that

he was

not

pr of i ci ent

i n t he a r t

of

sendi ng a f l i g h t arrowt o

what he c ons i der e d

a

gr e at di s t a nc e

.

W

may

from

t h i s

s a f e l y

as s ume t h a t a r ange of

143

yar ds further than t he Tur ki sh

secretary att ai ned wi th hi s bow,

or a t o t a l f l i g h t

o f

625 yards, was qui te possi bl e

i n

t he

c as e of amore

power f ul

and s k i l l e d

Tur ki sh

archer

than hewas

See Chapt er L f or a descr i pti on

of l ong

di st ance ar r ow- t hr owi ng

by hand

treatise on turkish bows

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