Though I have carefully examined over fifty of these small Turkish bows, I have never seen one that exceeded 1¼ in. in width at its widest part, or if measured with a tape along its outer curve, when unstrung (AAAAA, fig. 1), was over 3 ft. 10 in. in length. Bows that are 4 or 5 in. longer than the dimensions here given are invariably of Persian or Indian manufacture, and are very inferior in the elasticity that is requisite for long-distance shooting, though in decoration and construction they often closely resemble Turkish bows. [Page 104] The bow is chiefly constructed of very flexible horn and sinew. These materials were softened by heat and water and then longitudinally glued to a slight lath of wood varying from ⅛ to ¼ in. in thickness (except where it formed the handle of the bow), and from ½ to 1 in. in width. This strip of wood formed the core or mould of the bow, and extended at each of its ends for 3 in. beyond the strips of horn and sinew that were fixed on its opposite sides, and which slightly overlapped it. (Fig. 2, p. 105.) The projecting ends of the wooden strip were enlarged so as to form the solid extremities of the bow in which the nocks for the bow-string were cut. (CC fig. 3, p. 106.) The two curved horn strips, which in part comprised the arms of the bow (on its inside face when it was bent), were cut from the horn of a buffalo or an antelope, and average about ¼ in. in thickness. The thicker ends of these pieces meet at the middle of the handle of the bow and their tapered ends extend to within 3 in. of its wooden points. (EE fig. 3, p. 106.) The sinew that represents the back of the bow is from the great neck tendon of an ox or stag. This was probably shredded longitudinally, and, after being soaked in elastic glue, compressed into a long flat strip about ¼ in. thick, which was first moulded in a pliable state to the wooden core and then glued to it. It thus formed the back of the bow when it was bent. (DDD fig. 3, p. 106.) The bark of the cherry-tree, or thin leather or skin, was next glued over the sinew to preserve it from injury and damp. The horn parts, or inner face of the bow when it was strung, were not covered with bark or skin, a feature of the Turkish bow that, together with its small size, distinguishes it from the bows of India and other Oriental countries.[44] [44] Though the horn strips which form the belly, or inner surface when it is strung, of a Chinese or a Tartar bow, are neither covered nor decorated, the great size of these weapons easily distinguishes them from those of Turkish manufacture. (Figs. 13, 14, pp. 116, 117.) In the best Turkish bows this outer coating of bark, leather or skin was lacquered a brilliant crimson and elaborately decorated with gold tracery, the date of the bow being always placed at one of its ends and the name of its maker at the other.