164 ANCIENT AND MODERN METHODS 



the bow and the fire-ball is projected into the air by its 

 momentum. The release in this act is shown in Fig. 20. 



The first finger passes above the string and under the ar- 

 row, the thnmb being straightened and the arrow grasped 

 between the thumb and finger. This is a most awkward and 

 inefficient release ; and as the descriptions of this and the 

 previous Malay release were given me by an old man, 

 who was at the time being questioned by Mr. Hervey in 

 the interest of philology, it is possible that the releases may 

 have been incorrectly described. 



The releases thus far given comprise those forms which 

 have been studied from life. 



It now remains for us to examine the releases of ancient 



Fig. 20. Temiang release when shooting at spirit of sickness. 



peoples which are made known to us through illuminated 

 manuscripts, frescos, rock sculpture, and other graphic 

 methods. From the conventional way in which many of 

 these are depicted, great difficulty is encountered in prop- 

 erly interpreting the exact method of release intended. 

 In many cases, especially in certain forms of the ancient 

 Egyptian, as shown in the frescos, and early Grecian, as 

 represented on their decorative vases, it is well nigh im- 

 possible to recognize any mode in which the arrow could 

 be drawn. In some cases the release might be intended 



