Page 429 - The Ashley Book of Knots

THE ASHLEY BOOK OF KNOTS

The next five numbers are of the type ordinarily termed "Cutting

the Fingers." These tricks are common with most primitive people

and are recorded in ethnological repons from almost every quarter

of the globe.

2598. "Cutting the Fingers" (I) was first shown to me by Waldo

Howland. It is given in the Smithsonian 38th Annual Report (Wash-

ington, 1916-17) and also is described by W. W. Rouse Ball, Kath-

leen Haddon, and C. F. Jayne in their works on string figures. When

diagram 'I/: 2 599 has been reached, ig;nore the ctrrow that is drll'U:n,

and cast off the two loops from the thumb, pull forward on the loop

shown at the heel of the hand, and all the fingers will Be neatly

severed and the cord removed.

2599. "Cutting the Fingers" (2). If, however, the arrow in the

final diagram of 'I/: 2 598 is followed and the two loops around the

thumb are led to the back of the hand and pulled back taut between

the second and ring fingers, it will be found that the loop which was

pulled in 'I/: 2 598 will no longer be in evidence. An entirely different

and solitary loop or bight now crosses the palm as in 'I/: 2 599. This

is seized and pulled to cut the fingers and spill the knot.

2600. "Cutting the Fingers" (3)' Shown to me by Waldo How-

land, given also in the Smithsonian 38th Annual Report. When plac-

ing the cord around the fingers it is given a half turn in the same

direction at each finger. But when the thumb is reached the direction

is changed and the twist also is reversed.

Finally the two bights in the second drawing are removed from

the thumb, the long loo}!' at the little finger is pulled, and again

the fingers are cut.

2601. "Cutting the Fingers" (4). Shown to me by my mother

~---. when I was a child. I have never forgotten it or found it elsewhere

and I still recall how the dispatch with which my fingers were

severed filled me with horror. How children ever survive havin

2000

their noses alternately removed and replaced, their fingers lopped 0 ,

their ears snipped, their thumbs twisted off and other like acts of

mayhem is a mystery to me; and yet we live and joyfully pass the

ghastly practices along to the next generation.

2602. "Cutting the Fingers" (5). This one I also learned when a

child, from my uncle, Captain Albert Robbins. I would very much

like to know in just what quarter of the globe he found it. A loop

encircles the thumb and fingers of the left hand. The forefinger of

the right hand is passed between the thumb and forefinger of the

left hand, which leads across the left palm, to hook the back cord.

2.60 \ - A bight is pulled forward and twisted half a right turn and then is

dropped over to the back of the finger. Each finger is hitched in

proper turn. When all are arranged, the single loop over the thumb

is cast off, and only the forward half of the cord across the palm

is pulled on to cut the fingers.

In each of the tricks now to be considered the string .r cord at

2bO 2.

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