OK guys, a little background first. My son Dan and his wife and family are missionaries to Tanzania, East Africa. Dan runs a Bible Institute as well as helping run an orphanage. They live at the orphanage
which is located in the village of Shadi. Shadi is outside of Mwanza on the south-east corner of Lake Victoria. They have a great view of Lake Victoria in their backyard.
(http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/p622/beads18/Sukuma%20Bow%202012/P1010105.jpg)
We visited a Church in Sengerema where I met The Pastor, Hamisi. When Dan told him I had made bows for Dan and his kids, Hamisi told Dan that he knew how to make Sukuma bows. Hamisi does not speak English and I do not speak Swahili, but as Dan interpreted I could feel the excitement building.
We discussed how he made them and he told us but said it would be better to show me. :bigsmyl: :bigsmyl:
What an opportunity!!!!!
We arranged a trip back to Sengerema on Friday.
One of the other missionaries' brother, Jon, who was visiting from Tennessee, came along with us.
Upon arriving on Friday we out to the land that Hamisi farms.
(http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/p622/beads18/Sukuma%20Bow%202012/P1010334.jpg)
We were looking for the wood we would use for the bow (it is called Mkoma in Swahili) and wood for the arrows (Kumbo).
We found both on an old termite mound.
(http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/p622/beads18/Sukuma%20Bow%202012/P1010350.jpg)
Mkoma- bow wood
(http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/p622/beads18/Sukuma%20Bow%202012/P1010355.jpg)
(http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/p622/beads18/Sukuma%20Bow%202012/P1010344.jpg) (http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/p622/beads18/Sukuma%20Bow%202012/P1010347.jpg)
Kumbo- arrow wood
(http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/p622/beads18/Sukuma%20Bow%202012/P1010358.jpg)
(http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/p622/beads18/Sukuma%20Bow%202012/P1010359.jpg)
(http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/p622/beads18/Sukuma%20Bow%202012/P1010360.jpg)
Katani (sisal) - string material,
(http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/p622/beads18/Sukuma%20Bow%202012/P1010365.jpg)
(http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/p622/beads18/Sukuma%20Bow%202012/P1010363.jpg)
Well that is about it for tonight, have to get up at 4 am tomorrow for work. I will post more tomorrow or Monday.
Bill
This is awesome. Thanks for posting.
This should be fantastic! Thanks for doing it.
Ya Baby:)
Watching with great interest
I'll use this thread in my class as a "multicultural" activity.
Thanks for sharing. :thumbsup:
Who needs fast flight when you can grow a string in your backyard. Can't wait for this one to continue.
Great thread! Keep it coming...
Hey Guys, Thanks for the responses. It's great to hear from you all. Back to the build:
The sticks were trimmed of all little twigs.
When we got back to Hamisi's home the bow staves were placed on a pile of dry grass that had been cut before we came.
(http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/p622/beads18/Sukuma%20Bow%202012/P1010376.jpg)
More grass was placed on top
(http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/p622/beads18/Sukuma%20Bow%202012/P1010379.jpg)
and the pile was set ablaze,
(http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/p622/beads18/Sukuma%20Bow%202012/P1010382.jpg)
After the grass was burnt to ash
(http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/p622/beads18/Sukuma%20Bow%202012/P1010393.jpg)
the staves were removed and taken to the shade
(http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/p622/beads18/Sukuma%20Bow%202012/P1010394.jpg)
At this point we had 5 staves to work with. before the staves were cooled off the bark was pulled off in strips- just like the bark from a white wood log in late spring or summer.
(http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/p622/beads18/Sukuma%20Bow%202012/P1010397.jpg)
After the bark was stripped one was culled out due to a dog leg and crack that developed.
(http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/p622/beads18/Sukuma%20Bow%202012/P1010398.jpg)
At this point the wood cooled and we ate lunch. I have to go to work but will try to post again tonight.
Bill
This is cool
AWESOME! I love stuff like this!
This is very interesting. I wonder if natives from North America dried bow wood the same way.
Glad you guys are enjoying this, it was such a wonderful blessing to be there and to watch this first hand.
Let me tell you a little that I know about the Kisukuma ( plural for Sukuma). The Sukuma tribe is mainly located in the northwest part of the country of Tanzania, Lake Victoria area. They are one of the largest if not the largest tribe of the 100 or so tribes located in Tanzania. As a people these are some of the friendliest people I have met, especially in the villages and small towns. They respect the elders of not only their tribe/family but also of strangers. Hamisi offered to show me how to make these bows and expected nothing in return. After Hamisi finished and gave me these bows I asked my son Dan what I should give him back to somehow show my appreciation. Dan told me that it was Hamisi's way of showing his friendship and by even offering something in return my be somehow considered an insult. What true friendship- giving without expecting anything in return. Sounds like a few people around here as well.
Anyway back to the build:
Time to start shaping and tillering and to test the bend
(http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/p622/beads18/Sukuma%20Bow%202012/P1010402.jpg)
and see where to remove the excess wood
(http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/p622/beads18/Sukuma%20Bow%202012/P1010405.jpg)
As you can see the areas of where the twigs/branches have been left proud. The stave was rotated, spiraled, around to see which way it bent best. As the back was identified the reduction of the knot areas began
(http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/p622/beads18/Sukuma%20Bow%202012/P1010407.jpg)
All of the knots were smoothed out but it seemed important to get the back correct first.
(http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/p622/beads18/Sukuma%20Bow%202012/P1010411.jpg)
Soon the wood appeared to be smooth
(http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/p622/beads18/Sukuma%20Bow%202012/P1010417.jpg)
When Hamisi seem to be happy with the bend adjustments where made by trimming the ends - either to thin, bent to much or the thick end, not enough bend. Both ends where shaped to points.
(http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/p622/beads18/Sukuma%20Bow%202012/P1010428.jpg)
(http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/p622/beads18/Sukuma%20Bow%202012/P1010428.jpg)
Question for you bowyers:
Does this shortening of the ends to tiller seems to be common in branch bows in other areas??? It makes sense that just thinning the branch/stave would violate rings too much.
(http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/p622/beads18/Sukuma%20Bow%202012/P1010434.jpg)
Tillering continues
(http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/p622/beads18/Sukuma%20Bow%202012/P1010434.jpg)
Time for the string:
(http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/p622/beads18/Sukuma%20Bow%202012/P1010370.jpg)
The katani (sisal) was cut into strips
(http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/p622/beads18/Sukuma%20Bow%202012/P1010371.jpg)
(http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/p622/beads18/Sukuma%20Bow%202012/P1010401.jpg)
Hamisi's wife and son(15 years old) knew what to do. The strip is held against the side of his foot with the knife held at a 90 degree angle as the strip is pulled through.
(http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/p622/beads18/Sukuma%20Bow%202012/P1010423.jpg)
The green cellulose is scraped away leaving a white fibrous tread like material
(http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/p622/beads18/Sukuma%20Bow%202012/P1010424.jpg)
(http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/p622/beads18/Sukuma%20Bow%202012/P1010442.jpg)
(http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/p622/beads18/Sukuma%20Bow%202012/P1010421.jpg)
String making continued:
Hamisi rolled up his pant leg and prepared 2 bundles.
(http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/p622/beads18/Sukuma%20Bow%202012/P1010445.jpg)
This was really great to see. Hamisi first separated threads into two equal bundles and slightly twisted between his fingers
(http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/p622/beads18/Sukuma%20Bow%202012/P1010446.jpg)
(http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/p622/beads18/Sukuma%20Bow%202012/P1010447.jpg)
He the placed the two separate bundles against his leg, about 1 inch apart. He then places the palm of his hand on the bundles and rolls them down his leg, keeping the bundles separate.
(http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/p622/beads18/Sukuma%20Bow%202012/P1010449.jpg)
After rolling the bundles away from him he stops and with his forearm Hamisi rolls the bundles back toward him twisting them together.
(http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/p622/beads18/Sukuma%20Bow%202012/P1010452.jpg)
When I saw this I said that this was the same process that is used to make Flemish Strings, twist each bundle away from you and back over the top.
As the bundles got shorter more material was twisted into each bundle
(http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/p622/beads18/Sukuma%20Bow%202012/P1010455.jpg)
(http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/p622/beads18/Sukuma%20Bow%202012/P1010456.jpg)
(http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/p622/beads18/Sukuma%20Bow%202012/P1010459.jpg)
Another angle of this process:
(http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/p622/beads18/Sukuma%20Bow%202012/P1010463.jpg)
(http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/p622/beads18/Sukuma%20Bow%202012/P1010462.jpg)
(http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/p622/beads18/Sukuma%20Bow%202012/P1010464.jpg)
The two bundles that were not twisted had to be separated every so often to keep them from knotting up.
(http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/p622/beads18/Sukuma%20Bow%202012/P1010465.jpg)
Not too long later the length was good
(http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/p622/beads18/Sukuma%20Bow%202012/P1010474.jpg)
String nocks are cut into the ends of the bow
(http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/p622/beads18/Sukuma%20Bow%202012/P1010475.jpg)
(http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/p622/beads18/Sukuma%20Bow%202012/P1010481.jpg)
(http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/p622/beads18/Sukuma%20Bow%202012/P1010484.jpg)
Very interesting, Bill. Thanks for taking the time to show us this. Roy
This is going to be great. Can't wait to see the rest. Thanks so much for sharing!
Fascinating!
Very cool :)
More please!!! :clapper:
You need to take a little time off work and finish this!!!! It is amazing and the suspense is killing me!
Can't wait to see it finished, always interesting to see how other use what is availabe to them to come to the same end. (A weapon that can be used to feed your family,or just enjoy shooting).....Dan
Bill were those shafts green off the tree? Look like it.
Sorry not enough time to post more tonight. Ralph if I had not just been gone from work for a month I would be able to take the time to finish this.
Roy, everything we cut was green, bow wood, arrow wood, sisal.
Very interesting. I can't wait to see the arrows and how this set up is shot and how it performs. I am also interested to learn how these bows are used and the type of game the hunt with them.
Great stuff! Thanks for sharing with us.
Well this is very cool indeed. I wonder if I could do that with some hedges shoots.
Very interesting. Can't wait to see how they come out.
question:
are those bow woods or saplings at same thickness at both end?
if it is, how? since they are fresh cut? if not, how it is gonna be tillered.
oh boy this is way cool can't wait :clapper: to see how they come out
More more more.... :campfire:
This is terrific, Bill! Thank you!
Oh! Did he use the bark in any way?
This is indeed, way cool! Thanks for sharing your blessing.
Hey Guys, it's great to see the interest in these bows. To answer some questions since the last posting:
Beyaz, (Inksoup)- "are those bow woods or saplings at same thickness at both end? if it is, how? since they are fresh cut? if not, how it is gonna be tillered."
These shoots are not the same thickness on each end. In fact one was almost twice as thick on one one as the other. Some of the tillering came in as the ends were shortened and/or thinned from side to side. Even then you will see some asymmetrical profile and the bow is not always held in the middle. These guys do not put handles or arrow passes on the bows. When asked about a constant placement of the hand I was told it was by feel. Today there will be pics showing these bows being shot.
Stan (Red Hill)
I did not see the bark used for anything and did not think to ask. But remembering the feel I could see where, as I have read before, it being twisted while green and being used like a squirrel rawhide string. I am sorry I did not ask about this. So many things going through my mind and so little time.
OK we left off with the cutting of the string nocks. Now on to placing the string on the bow:
(http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/p622/beads18/Sukuma%20Bow%202012/P1010488.jpg)
Knot look familiar?
(http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/p622/beads18/Sukuma%20Bow%202012/P1010489.jpg)
(http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/p622/beads18/Sukuma%20Bow%202012/P1010490.jpg)
Tying off the top limb:
(http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/p622/beads18/Sukuma%20Bow%202012/P1010495.jpg)
tiller pull:
(http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/p622/beads18/Sukuma%20Bow%202012/P1010497.jpg)
retying to get the tiller more in line
(http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/p622/beads18/Sukuma%20Bow%202012/P1010499.jpg)
Trimming those frayed ends
(http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/p622/beads18/Sukuma%20Bow%202012/P1010500.jpg)
Continuing to check tiller
(http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/p622/beads18/Sukuma%20Bow%202012/P1010502.jpg)
Thanks, Bill. I was only wondering about the bark because your bowyer seems to be able to use just about anything in the process of making a bow!
This is an excellent example of how to use materials from nature more efficiently. Not only will this be a great multi-cultural lesson, it'll also fit into the environmental science class I teach.
So many of us do not have the opportunity to travel so I use these types of resources to make up for it.
Jon pulls as others look at the bend
(http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/p622/beads18/Sukuma%20Bow%202012/P1010504.jpg)
OK guys, a little about the arrows: we did not have enough time to make the arrows. We had stopped by the local market in Sengerema on the way back from the farm field to buy some arrow heads, Hamisi does not make these metal heads. We could not find just the heads so I bought 8 finished arrows. I did not get ant close ups of the arrows there but took some now.
(http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/p622/beads18/Sukuma%20Bow%202012/P1010020.jpg)
Three fletch tied on with reinforced nocks and at the point.
(http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/p622/beads18/Sukuma%20Bow%202012/P1010024.jpg)
The fletch starts about 2 inches down from the nock
(http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/p622/beads18/Sukuma%20Bow%202012/P1010021.jpg)
Can also see the burnt marks on the shafts, straightened with heat.
(http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/p622/beads18/Sukuma%20Bow%202012/P1010022.jpg)
Metal points with heavy barbs
(http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/p622/beads18/Sukuma%20Bow%202012/P1010026.jpg)
First shot out of bow- you can see the arrow to the left of the left doorway. He was shooting for a box inside the doorway. Optical illusion - it did not miss as far as it looks.
(http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/p622/beads18/Sukuma%20Bow%202012/P1010507.jpg)
Wrapping and tying off the extra sting around top limb
(http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/p622/beads18/Sukuma%20Bow%202012/P1010508.jpg)
(http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/p622/beads18/Sukuma%20Bow%202012/P1010510.jpg)
(http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/p622/beads18/Sukuma%20Bow%202012/P1010509.jpg)
Finished bow
(http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/p622/beads18/Sukuma%20Bow%202012/P1010511.jpg)
First draw, Hamisi always drew a little over half draw, took a breath, let down, then full draw and release. When asked why the half draw Hamisi responded that is to great your mind right before the shot.
(http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/p622/beads18/Sukuma%20Bow%202012/P1010514.jpg)
(http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/p622/beads18/Sukuma%20Bow%202012/P1010530.jpg)
(http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/p622/beads18/Sukuma%20Bow%202012/P1010532.jpg)
(http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/p622/beads18/Sukuma%20Bow%202012/P1010531.jpg)
Different angle
(http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/p622/beads18/Sukuma%20Bow%202012/P1010536.jpg)
Jon shooting one of the bows
(http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/p622/beads18/Sukuma%20Bow%202012/P1010533.jpg)
(http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/p622/beads18/Sukuma%20Bow%202012/P1010534.jpg)
Some better shots of the string and nocks
(http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/p622/beads18/Sukuma%20Bow%202012/P1010003.jpg)
(http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/p622/beads18/Sukuma%20Bow%202012/P1010004.jpg)
Notice how he set up the string to the left- not to make it center shot but to put the string in the middle of the handle area
(http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/p622/beads18/Sukuma%20Bow%202012/P1010007.jpg)
(http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/p622/beads18/Sukuma%20Bow%202012/P1010008.jpg)
Now a little bit about the bows: Hamisi said that the bows are rubbed with goat fat. The goat fat does not turn rancid like cow fat.
These bows turned out to be around 20# pull, around 42 inches long. I asked what animals were hunted with a bow like this. He answered grouse, hare and rodents. I asked about larger game and he said people would use a bow like this for even large game. When asked if he meant this pound bow and he said yes if the arrows are poisoned. I was shocked. I asked if he knew how to make the poison and he said no but you can buy it from people in the village. The knowledge is passed down from father to son.
I asked if he hunted with a bow and he said not much, a slingshot in his pocket is easier to carry when working in the fields. They shoot all kinds of birds for the dinner table.
Well need to sign off for the night, post more tomorrow.
thank you this is cool :thumbsup:
Awesome build. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for sharing. It's a real learning experience to see how bows are built and used in different cultures.
Dave.
That is cool! Thanks for sharing.
Bill, did that board on the ground serve any purpose other than a place to cut things? Kinda looks like some of the tillering trees I have seen on here...
Thanks, Bill. That was a very good exchange.
enjoyed the whole build. always good to see how other cultures go about things.
We owe you one for this thread.
It was so awesome, I'll have to return from time to time just to enjoy it again!
Thank you!
I did want to ask about how long did this take? Maybe I missed the timeline,,, one day, two days?
To answer some questions and add a little more:
Ralph- "Bill, did that board on the ground serve any purpose other than a place to cut things?"
No it was just a cutting board.
Osagetree, Hamisi built the three bows in about 5 hours time. We did help a little by stripping bark and wasting his time by asking question. It really was something to see.
Now the story of my trip continues:
On our way back to Dan's home in Shadi I asked him if he knew of where I could get an adult bow to take back with me. He did not know but later talked with our friend Paulo, Pastor at the Church in Sweya. Paulo lines up our hunting permits and goes with us as we hunt. Paulo had some connections with some people who still make and apparently still use these bows to hunt with. He made the arrangements to get 3 hunting bows 15 arrows and 3 quivers made. These did cost us some money but was well with it. The cost was 45,000 Tanzania Schillings- about $25.00 US. When we returned from our hunting trip the following Wednesday we drove to the place and picked them up. The most interesting part was as we were meeting this man on the side of the rode at 11pm looking at what I had purchased, The man said "Be careful of the arrows in that quiver, they are the POISON ones". I did not get pictures over there of the equipment but did take some of the ones I brought home. I was to leave 1 bow and quiver with Dan, one set to give to my other son in Iowa and one for me. Two of the bows were too long to fit in my case so I left two bows with Dan. Jon, my other son, got a bow that Hamisi made as well as a quiver with 5 arrows. I have 1 of the bows I bought, a quiver with the 5 poison arrows and the other children s bow Hamisi made.
Anyway here are some pics:
Bow is 48" long with about a 3 inch brace height
(http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/p622/beads18/Sukuma%20Bow%202012/Canoe4.jpg)
(http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/p622/beads18/Sukuma%20Bow%202012/Canoe3.jpg)
(http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/p622/beads18/Sukuma%20Bow%202012/Canoe2.jpg)
Compared to the other bows
(http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/p622/beads18/Sukuma%20Bow%202012/P1010029.jpg)
I do not know the draw weight is but it has to be at least 60 pounds at 20 inches. They do not draw very far. They use a 2 finger draw- one above and one below. The bows stay strung all the time and with the set there is almost no weight on the string at brace height.
Now the arrows and quiver:
(http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/p622/beads18/Sukuma%20Bow%202012/P1010030.jpg)
It is cow hide, rawhide with hair left on. It is very stiff but there is a stiffening rod on it as well. A cap to cover the opening made from the same hide.
(http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/p622/beads18/Sukuma%20Bow%202012/P1010031.jpg)
And the arrows, They are three fletch with the feathers glued on over a winding to support the self nock.
(http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/p622/beads18/Sukuma%20Bow%202012/P1010037.jpg)
(http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/p622/beads18/Sukuma%20Bow%202012/P1010039.jpg)
The fletching go all the way to the end of the nock, maybe due to the low brace height?
(http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/p622/beads18/Sukuma%20Bow%202012/P1010038.jpg)
Compared to the other arrows
(http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/p622/beads18/Sukuma%20Bow%202012/P1010021.jpg)
Now the business end
(http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/p622/beads18/Sukuma%20Bow%202012/P1010036.jpg)
The black tar like stuff between the barbs and the arrow shaft is the poison.
(http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/p622/beads18/Sukuma%20Bow%202012/P1010035.jpg)
The shanks of the broadheads are much longer than the others. Because they are from slightly different areas or due to the poison?
(http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/p622/beads18/Sukuma%20Bow%202012/P1010026.jpg)
There is a lot more to say about our trip over there but I am pretty much done with the build along, unless to answer your questions. I think it is great to be able to share with you guys, I get so much from Tradgang that I just had to try and give some back. Thanks for your interest.
Bill
That is pretty cool. Man if that full size does not look like an osage D bow.
Very cool, Bill.
Thanks that was awsome
Great finish Bill, thanks!!!
Very interesting all round, but sure be careful with the poison arrows. they seem to be really lethal and wouldn't do for someone to be having a eyeball at them and cut themselves!
wow
Thanks for taking the time to post the build. Very intersting. I am glad to see that it is still part of their culture. Seems like at least a few of the young folk were interested as well.
That was great pictures
Thank you !!
Thanks for taking the time to share, an interesting journey in pictures.....MM