Date: Fri, 17 Mar 95 10:03:13 -0700
From: Bill Blohm <bblohm@hpbs1686.boi.hp.com>
Message-Id: <9503171703.AA04313@hpbs1686.boi.hp.com>
To: baidarka@imagelan.com
Subject: Re: Traditional Paddles, Late Entry
> it is not a springy flex. Maybe a good rigid scarf could be made with a
> lashing that tightens when wet and an interlocking ridge and valley down the
> length of the scarf. It has to be very reliable or it would not be accepted.
A strip of leather, such as was usually used back then for lashing things
together, could be wet, lashed on tight, and would shrink extremely tight as
it dried. Some of these lashings were actually as "hard as steel." Rawhide
was especially good for that, and was often used to tie up prisoners. As it
dried, it would really tighten down, often cutting circulation to the hands
and feet. I've even heard of this technique being used to garrotte someone
as punishment: thoroughly wet the rawhide, tie it tight around the neck of
the prisoner, and let it dry. Such a lashing would not, IMHO, be floppy if
done by someone who knew how to lash things and did a good job of it,
especially if it had some type of long scarf joint with a ridge such as you
mention.
Bill B.