64 



BULLETIN 87, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



weak reed tube offers very unstable material for the nock, and is 

 liable to be torn by the recoil or pressure of the bow string. This was 

 met by fitting a rod of even size in the tube (fig. 140 a, h), and the 

 rod was held by the sinew lashing engaging one extremity of the 

 feathering. Frequently an extra sinew winding was applied (fig. 

 140 c, e), which constricted the arrow and gave an excellent purchase 

 for the fingers. 



The feathering is usually applied near the nock end, as in a, b, 

 and d, but sometimes removed further up the shaft as in c. The 

 feather strips are not glued to the shaft, and appear to have been 

 sprung or bowed in the specimens on which the feathering has sur- 

 vived. A number of arrows of the best workmanship show that 

 the method of applying the feathering was first to bind the forward 

 end of the strips under the sinew, proceed with the lower sinew 



wrapping for a short distance, 

 then bind the lower end of the 

 feathers in and continue the 

 sinew to the nock. (Fig. 140 e.) 

 The sinew was applied with great 

 neatness and skill. 



The foreshafts are of hard- 

 wood, finished with remarkable 

 care and exactness, tapering grad- 

 ually from the line of junction 

 with the shaft to the point and 

 tapering more abruptly to the 

 lower end. Three types of inser- 

 tion of the foreshaft are observed. 

 In the first (fig. 141, «, &), it is 

 not set so deeply, and the crown 

 of the bulge occurs a little above the junction with the shaft, whicli 

 therefore shows a slight constriction at this point. The sinew bind- 

 ing is applied close below the junction of the parts. In the second 

 (fig. 141 c, d), the foreshaft is set deeply, and a slight swell is formed 

 in the shaft. The sinew encircles the shaft some distance below the 

 insertion of the foreshaft. In the third (fig. 141, e, /), the foreshaft 

 is cut away, forming a collar, and the portion to be inserted in the 

 shaft tapered to a rather slender spindle. The collar is gauged to 

 the thickness of the walls of the reed, and when the parts are brought 

 together the junction is perfect, and the caliber of the arrow shaft 

 and foreshaft equal, the sinew wrapping altering it very little. This 

 joinery is surprisingly neat, accurate, and strong, and passes the 

 most rigid inspection. The work would excite admiration were the 

 finest tools for its. execution in the hands of the artisan; it is known. 



a b c d 



Fig. 141. — Examples of fitting arrow 

 foreshafts from blue river. 



