Indian Antiquary Vol 52

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Stephen Meredyth Edwardes, Krishnaswami Aiyangar
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 543

SEPTEMBER, 1923) DICTIONARY OF THE SOUTH ANDAMAN LANGUAGE
189
APPENDIX XIII. LIST OF OBJECTS MADE AND USED BY THE ANDAMANESE.1 (It is to be understood that, unless otherwise stated, the descriptions here given refer to the bőjig-ngiji., (more especially the åka-bea-, i.e., the South Andaman tribe) of Great Andaman, in whose territory the Indian penal colony is situated.]
1. kâra ma-. (Pl. B.) Bow of a flattened S-shaped form the upper half concave and the lower convex , as made and used by the five bojig-ngtjl- tri bes of Middle and South Andaman and the Archipelago (see Dictionary " Andamanese" and Pl. i, iv, vii, etc.). It is generally made of a hard wood called chal-, legs frequently of the badama-, yârla-, põrud- or chådak- (see App. XI). These bows vary in length from 4 to over 6 ft.; for use in the jungle short bows are of course preferred.
In order to make a karama-a stout branch, possessing the requieite serpentine form, of one of the five prescribed trees is selected and felled by means of an adze (item 15), which tool further suffices the bowyer to perform the work of shaping and rough-trimming to such an extent that the final planing can be executed with a boar's tusk (item 47), the edge of which has been sharpened by means of a cyrena shell (item 50). The craftsman then takes one of these shells and notches its edge in order to produce some jagged points, with which he proceeds to ornament the bow by making symmetrical lines of cross-incisions (ig-yltinga-) or lozenge pattern (jobo-târ-tänga-) along the edges and, if space permit, also the centre of the two blades and on the handle; after which the surfaces are smeared with kõiob- (item 58), see PI. B and Pl. x, fig. 2, and tobul.-pf]- (itein 67). If intended for presentation, the bow is usually further decorated with designs in tåla-og- (item 58), see Pl. B. and Pl. X, fig. 2,
In consequence of the extremities of the kärama-and o höklo (see item 1.b) being too slender to permit of nocks being provided for the bow-string by means of notches out in the wood, the ridges or projections necessary for holding the two loops are constructed by neatly winding a sufficient quantity of twine at the two nocking places : the upper nock of the karama- is about 14 inch from the point, and the lower one about an inch only; hence the bow is strung and unstrung at the latter end, contrary to the practice with us. At the upper nock (or sometimes at both) in the midst of the winding knotted tags of twine, about two inches long, are introduced and secured; these are identification marks indicating the owner. Bo Sides serving as nocks these twine loop-holders assist in strengthening the bow by lessening
1 More or less complete collections of the objects described in this catalogue have been contributed to various othnographical Museums viz.; British Museum, Oxford and Cambridge Universities, Edinburgh (Science and Art), Halifax (Bankfield), Brighton, Calcutta, Berlin, Vienna, Leipsig, Florence, and Leyden (Netherlands).
3 In Mr. C. J. Longman's paper on "Forms of the bow, and their distribution” (Badminton Library, Archery') he remarks in reference to the karama- and choklo (Eee item 1.b)," it is important to note that both the Oregon bow and the Andaman bow are reflex when unstrung, that is to say, they are drawn in the reverse direction to the curve which the bow Asgumes when unstrung." Tho" necessity to make the blade thin, and the only way to get the requisite strength " was, as he adds, "to broaden it."
9 As it is the common practice of the Andamanese to decorate their various utensils, weapons, etc., the attention of enquirers is drawn to the fairly complete information and designs furnished on the subject in Vol. XII, pp. 370-73 of the Journ of the Anthrop. Inst. (1883).
. To secure this object, endeavour is made to mark each owner's bow or bows distinctly from all others by the character, position, or number of the tags and their knots.