PERSIAN, UNSTRUNG.
PERSIAN, STRUNG.
INDIAN, UNSTRUNG.
INDIAN, STRUNG.
TURKISH, UNSTRUNG.
TURKISH, STRUNG.
Scale: One inch = one foot.
Fig. 14.
Though the range of the Turkish bow—whether with a flighting or with a war arrow—far exceeds that of the other bows depicted, yet the Persian and Indian weapons are capable of shooting to a long distance, certainly much farther than any European longbow.
The great Chinese or Tartar bow requires a very long arrow, which from its length is, of necessity, a heavy one with a thick shaft. It cannot be propelled, as a result, farther than from 250 to 260 yards. One distinctive feature of Chinese, Tartar, Persian or Indian bows is the formation of their bow-strings. These are invariably from ¼ to 5/16 in. in thickness, and are always closely wrapped round, from end to end, with soft cord or coloured silk of about the substance of worsted.
The Turkish bow-string is ⅛ in. thick, and is merely served round with fine silk for 3 in. at its centre of length, with three or four shorter lashings at intermediate points.
THE LENGTHS OF THE ARROWS FORMERLY USED IN WARFARE WITH THE BOWS GIVEN IN FIGS. 13 AND 14.
| Chinese or Tartar bow | 3 ft. |
| Persian | 2 ft. 8 in. |
| Indian | 2 ft. 6 in. |
| Turkish[47] | 2 ft. 4½ in. |
[47] The long Turkish war arrow was drawn to the head as in an ordinary bow. The grooved horn was only used with the short and light flight-arrow.