War in Ancient India c7.s2.8

c7.s2.8

When these foot-soldiers equipped themselves for war, Arrian says that ‘they carry a bow made of equal length with the man who bears it. This they rest upon the ground and pressing against it with their left foot, thus discharge the arrow having drawn the string backwards: for the shaft they use is little short of being three yards long, and there is nothing which can resist an Indian Archer’s shot—neither shield nor breast-plate, nor any stronger defence if such there be. In their left hand they carry bucklers made of undressed ox-hide which are not so broad as those who carry them but are about as long.’