They were now shot from the same bow, over the same range and under the same conditions of weather, but their points were drawn 2½ in. within the bow along a grooved horn. The distance they then travelled averaged 360 yards.
The Turk, as was the custom of Orientals, shot his arrow from the right-hand side of his bow, as shown in [fig. 8], p. 111.[46]
[46] To discharge the arrow from the left-hand side of the bow, as is the custom in all European archery, the leather ring and the grooved horn will have to be fitted to the first joint of the forefinger.
The bow is here represented as fully bent, the point of the arrow being drawn back along the groove of the horn for a couple of inches within the bow.
The horn is attached to the thumb by a small leathern collar.
A short plaited cord of soft silk is suspended from the fore-end of the horn and is gripped between the fingers of the archer as he holds the bow.
This cord enables the archer to keep the horn in a level position on his hand. It is fixed to a small strip of leather which is glued beneath the horn.
The horn is usually of tortoiseshell, very highly polished. It is from 5 to 6 in. long, 1 in. wide, ¼ in. deep inside and 1/16 in. thick.
It is slightly sloped from its centre of length to each of its ends, so that when the arrow is projected it touches the hard and smooth surface of the horn very lightly, and with, therefore, the least possible friction to retard its flight.
As the horn groove is only one-sixteenth of an inch thick, the arrow, as it is drawn back or shot forward, may be said to fit close against the side of the bow.