THE YOUNG SCIENTIST. 
107 
The Mud-Bows of India. 
BY W. L. D. o'GRADY. 
ECHEEY is a pleasant pastime, 
but if carried out in all the com- 
pleteness considered necessary 
nowadays, is a very expensive 
Much fun can be obtained very 
cheaply by using a bow and dried balls of 
clay, instead of arrows. The mud-bow 
(as it is called) is popular in India. It 
has two strings, with a i)atch of cloth 
connecting them in the middle. With 
one. 
Fig.1. 
Fig. 3. 
Fig. 2. 
Fig. 4. 
Fig, 1. Mud-bow with two strings. 
Fig. 2. A patch in the middle, between them. 
Fig. 3. Spreaders near each end, to keep the 
patch from " budding "or wrinkling up. 
Fig. 4. Position of bow when drawn, slightly 
turned, so as to let the ball pass the thumb. The 
thumb-nail should be exactly opposite to the 
centre of the patch. 
practice great accuracy may be attained 
and the missiles can be propelled with 
force enough to kill small game as far off 
as a shotgun would reach. Beginners 
have to be careful, as otherwise they are 
apt to strike their left thumbs with con- 
siderable severity. Idle young officers in 
India often exercise their skill on ped- 
dlers and tramps, and drive them off 
howling dismally ; but this is not a com- 
mendable sport. They also use crows 
as targets, but there is no record of any 
crow ever having been hit. The Indian 
crows are wary birds. 
A very effective bow could be made 
here at the cost of ten cents. In India, 
the regular price of the best manufactured 
article is half a rupee, about eleven cents. 
It is not quite as handsome as a lance- 
wood or yew bow, with all its appurten- 
ances. It may -be noted that clay balls 
are cheaper than arrows, and will not 
stick in people's eyes. They will, how- 
ever, break glass and kill chickens, if 
misdirected. They are held between the 
finger and thumb, at the forepart of the 
patch, between the strings, and dis- 
charged when the bow is bent suffi- 
ciently, just like an arrow, on the right 
side, unless with a left-handed person, the 
bow being twisted just far •enough to the 
left to allow the ball to pass it. If 
twisted too far, the ball will go very wide 
of the mark. With patience and prac- 
tice the knack is easily learnt. A con- 
venient size for the ball is that of an ordi- 
nary marble. 
Overlay Work. 
NE of our correspondents asks 
through our query department 
for designs of overlay work for 
small door panels. We here- 
with publish six different designs in- 
tended for the purpose asked. 
No. 1 is a very plain pattern, but effec- 
tive withal, and if cut in light-colored 
wood — ash, maple or satinwood — and 
planted in a dark background of mahog- 
any, walnut or teak, it would be very 
pleasing. No. 2 is a little more elaborate, 
but would give good results if treated as 
No. 1. 
No. 3 is still more elaborate, and offers 
opportunities to the amateur carver, as 
the centre pieces and portions here and 
there may be carved more or less, accord- 
ing to the skill and taste of the worker. 
