OF ARROW-RELEASE. 



161 



which is fastened to one flap, passes through a hole in the 

 opposite flap, thus enabling it to be pulled up like a noose, 

 and then is wound tightly about the wrist several times. 

 The thumb of the glove is much thickened, and is very 

 hard and stiff (Fig. 16). Its operation is like that of the 

 Korean thumb-ring. 



In the Korean and Japanese practice the first and second 

 fingers assist in holding the thumb bent on the string, 

 while in the Manchu release only the first finger is so 



Fig. 17. Manchu. 



used, the other three fingers being inactive and closed. 

 There are doubtless other modifications of this release ; the 

 essential features however remain the same. 



A young Japanese from the north of Japan, in illustrating 

 to me his method of release, drew the string back with the 

 thumb and interlocked forefinger as already described, and 

 assisted the drawing back of the string with the tips of the 

 second and third fingers, as shown in the secondary release. 



The accompanying figure illustrates the attitude of the 

 shaft hand of a Manchu as seen from above, which I 

 sketched from a Manchu soldier at Canton. (Fig. 17.) The 



ESSEX INST. BULLETIN, VOL. XVII 



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