Author: moikikorim

The bow and arrow is an age-old hunting implement. The bow is the elastic launching device and the arrows are long projectiles having a pointed tip. These are mostly made of split bamboos and used by the most of the ethnic communities for chasing and hunting animals like birds, rabbits, deer, porcupine, boars etc. A flexible and sturdy bamboo is selected which can be bend up to an arc. A string prepared of the upper skin of young bamboo plant with two notches on both sides is tied to the two limbs of the bow with small chords. The chords are made of jute. The bamboo slits used for making the arrow are straightened by wrapping them in taro (Colocasia esculenta) or sal (Shorea robusta) leaves and heating them slowly over fire. On one end of the shaft, an iron tip is notched whereas on the other end, a pile of uniformly trimmed feathers (mostly of eagle/vulture/pigeon) is tied or stuck into small gouges made on the surface of the bamboo. In earlier days it was used as a weapon for defense against intruders and even dangerous animals, now its usage is limited to simple hunting activities.

Zongfisa is hunting and fishing tool made of iron. It is a thrusting or throwing weapon with long shaft and sharp head or blade. The shape of the iron spear head is triangle and the edge is sharp with a pointed tip. It is attached to a long bamboo stick.

This is a bamboo made basket type object mainly used as nest for domestic pigeon.

Je is a common implement used for fishing by the Bodo community. Chagje is used to fish small to big fishes in rivers, lakes, pond or the muddy water. It is made of nylon and plastic fiber or strings, braided in very intricate grid like pattern. A bamboo tube is split into four parts up to middle portion and a circular bamboo ring is then attached at the end of the split tube. The Je is then attached on the ring up to the mid of the stick. The use of this kind of fishing net is common to many communities of Assam.

Khobai is fishing equipment which is used to store fish while fishing. The pitcher shaped container is made of bamboo, and sometime cane is also used to tie the knots. A bamboo lid is tied with the help of a rope. In the neck of the Khobai, a jute rope or cane wire is connected which is used to tie on the waist of the fishermen to keep the catches during the fishing operations. The tapering shape in the neck portion of the object prevents the caught fish coming out.

Thela Je is a traditional fishing net of the Bodo community. All the sides are connected with three bamboo sticks. Then the sticks are fixed with the help of two bamboo pieces which again fixed by a bamboo pole and a long rope. At the time of fishing the net is dragged towards the body of the fisherman with the help of the rope.

Thela Je is a traditional fishing net of the Bodo community. All the sides are connected with three bamboo sticks. Then the sticks are fixed with the help of two bamboo pieces which again fixed by a bamboo pole and a long rope. At the time of fishing the net is dragged towards the body of the fisherman with the help of the rope.