OF ARROW-RELEASE. 11)7 



Mongolian release. 



Civilized. 



Cliinese. 

 Scythian. 

 Persian. 

 Egyptian. 

 Greek. ? 



AUCUAIC KELEASE? 



Civilized. 



Ancient Greek. 



It is hardl}' necessary to call attention to the importance 

 of a more systematic study of the methods of archery and 

 paraphernalia of the archers than has yet been done. I 

 would point out the necessity of observing greater care in 

 copying drawings, rock-inscriptions, frescos, bas-reliefs, 

 etc., as to the minor details, — such as the position of 

 the hand, the shape and character of the ends of the bow 

 and arrow, and the shape of the feathers ; also the possi- 

 bility and importance of identifying among ancient ol)jects 

 and drawings arm-guards, thumb-rings, arrow-rests, etc. 

 Travellers and explorers ought also not only to observe 

 the simple fact that such and such people use bows and 

 arrows, but they should accurately record, (1) the atti- 

 tude of the shaft hand; (2) whether the boAV is held 

 vertically or horizontally; (3) whether the arrow is to 

 the right or to the left of the bow vertical ; and (4), of 

 which no comment has been made in this paper, whether 

 extra arrows are held in the bow-hand or shaft-hand. The 

 method of bracing the bow is of importance also. 



The remarkable persistence of certain forms of arrow- 

 release among various nations leads me to believe, that, in 

 identifying the affinities of past races, the method of using 

 the bow may form another point in establishing or dis- 

 proving relationships. By knowing with more certainty 

 the character and limitation of the forms of arrow-release, 



