The Greenland Bow. 19 
permit of any certain determination in the matter. The curving has 
as a rule doubtless been single; this would seem evident from the 
specimens preserved, of which at least 10 are single curved, as is also 
the case with the bows in the mentioned pictures, and in the illustra- 
tions given by Fabricius and Hans EGEDE. Rearward curved wings 
are, however, found in at least 5 specimens and in an older р cture 1. 
How the Greenlanders themselves determined the length of their 
bows is not certain, unless Hans EGEDE’s expression, “а good arm- 
span’? is to be taken as a statement of their measure. The size 
indicated by PorsıLp, 100—130 cm.?, is too small, as it will be seen 
that not a few specimens measure over 140 cm. It rather seems as if 
the length might answer to the height of the shoulder. 
As already mentioned, it is the arrangement of the backing which 
justifies our taking this type as a special form, the backing here 
consisting of two layers. The lower of these is exactly as in the 
primary eastern type; but to this there is added an upper one, which 
covers about the middle half or three-fifths of the stave, and thus 
imparts to the weapon an increased force? (Fig. 2, а and 6, between 
crosses). It may consist either of a continuation of the lower backing, 
which is generally carried by simple slings about the stave, the edge 
of which is, as already mentioned, shaped to receive this. It may also 
be an entirely separate length of backing, here likewise, however, laid 
on in the same manner. In a bow from King William's Land (76 94, 
collected by the М’Смхтоск Expedition) we find, instead of slings, 
double half-hitches used. 
According to FABRICIUS, a couple of thin sinew cords were finally 
carried round both stave and backing in wide-spaced windings (as in 
Fig. 4, 6); neither in the two complete specimens preserved nor in either 
of the two paintings, however, is any such found. 
In conclusion, the two complete specimens mentioned may be 
described. Lc 365 (Fig. 2,6) has the stave fashioned in one piece, 
from a wood of fairly light weight, and pale in colour; it is single 
curved. Length 142 em. The back is flat, the inner side slightly 
convex. No distinct division of the grip from the remainder. The 
string is twisted of 4 plaited sinew threads and terminates at either 
end in a loop. The backing consists of a long sealhide line in three 
strips knotted together. It is fastened to the one nock by a running 
1 ANDERSON, Fig. to р. 252. This illustration may, however, possibly be purely 
conventional. This is at least the case with OLEarius’ figure р. 85. 
2 EGEDE, Nat. Hist., р. 56. 
3 PorsıLp, р. 160. 
4 It is this upper part, Мовросн has seen in NORDENSKIÖLD’S reproduction 
of the 1654 painting, and which he supposes to be the entire backing. The 
relation suggested by Мовросн’з theory as between the Greenland bow and 
the Asiatic type must of course be discarded. — cf. Murpocu, Pt. Barrow 
Exped. р. 199. 
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