Making Cordage
At Camp Bali we can arrange a demonstration of cordage manufacture.
The making of cordage in the old world style requires the careful selection and preparation of your material. In these first two frames we see the thick matting being carefully removed from the trunk of a Jacko palm.
This palm is easily recognized by its huge fronds which extend up to thirty feet. Closer inspection reveals the matting which is used to make the cordage. This matting is processed by the removal of the stiffer fibers.
On this occasion an assistant is being used to spin the initial cordage using a bamboo device (last frame). This allows the use of both hands to concentrate on the more difficult task of teasing out the fibers in a consistent amount. This is akin to traditional yarn spinning that most Europeans would recognize.
The device used hooks a pinch of the matting which is then teased out - a consistent amount of fibers away from the original body. This can then be spun by the hand tool by either string maker or an assistant. As more string is made it is s wrapped around the cross pieces of the hand tool.
The three stranded rope was then made by doubling a third of the cordage back
onto itself, then again with the remaining third. You can imagine this by
picturing the cordage in the shape of the letter Z. At each corner the
cordage is wrapped back on itself giving first a two then a three strand rope.
The green around the loop is a vine, which serves the purpose of reducing friction.
This rope is now strong enough to tether a cow, which was the original function of this type of rope. At this point the rope would be quickly passed through a fire to burn of any fibers that protrude from it.
As a medium to long term survival skill, I consider the knowledge of making cordage as being very important . Strong cordage is required in fishing, making snares , fire bow, and hunting bows. etc.