_THE BOW-STRING_
The main part of the bow-string was composed of a skein of about sixty
lengths of strong silk and was ingeniously knotted at each of its ends
to a separate loop, formed of hard and closely twisted sinew. A loop
and its knot is shown in fig. 4, opposite page.
These loops could not fray or cut, as would occur if they were made
of silk, and they fit into the nocks of the bow. The loops rest, when
the bow is strung, upon small ivory bridges (fig. 1, p. 102) which
are hollowed out to receive them, and which, in this way, retain the
bow-string in its place. Though these little bridges are not always
present on Turkish bows, they are invariably to be found on those of
Persian, Indian or Chinese construction, their greater length requiring
the assistance of bridges to keep their bow-strings in a correct
position.
[Page 107]
[Illustration: FIG. 4.--ONE OF THE LOOPS OF HARD AND CLOSELY TWISTED
SINEW WHICH ARE KNOTTED TO EACH END OF THE MIDDLE PART OR SKEIN OF A
TURKISH BOW-STRING.
Scale: Half full size.]
I. A loop and its knot as first formed on one end of the skein of the
bow-string.
II. The loop drawn up, but not tightened.
III. The loop drawn up tight and its loose ends secured.
As shown in III, the projecting ends of the length of sinew which forms
the loop are cut off to within a third of an inch of the knot. They are
singed at their extremities, so as to form small burrs which prevent
the short length of strong silk, which lashes them together, from
slipping off.
The ends of this last small lashing are placed beneath the wrapping of
silk to be seen on the skein near the knot in III.
In this way the knot of the loop is rigidly secured against any chance
of drawing when the bow is in use.
(The bow-strings of all Oriental bows, with the exception of the Tartar
and Chinese, were made as above described.)