New-York tribune., 1901-01-13
A BENGaLI KITE.
THE Willy SCHEME OF A NATIVE KITE
SAWYER.
From chambers's Journal.

From chambers's Journal
Oriental methods differ considerably from those
Of sh Of kite even an T9 a S has @
eal-in this case perhaps alto do with tae mat, MAJ,
Penty of room for long run and plenty OF energy
spent wa IN fhe MADE With 9h Ine foo dhg 1 tall
and with wings or tassels on its sides; To the
tws useG soaetes t eS eTe string as such kite viii
tax. a considerable amount of holding in A good
Kit. to y is tSe me most exbarating featuF but
tnsre great pleasure even to boys OF & IA larger ger
heavens. A good deal of science or knaek, too, IS
NAV be learned concerning one OF the greatest
REORGANIZATION such simple amusement.
II s ne making tSi Of e Beg k We do not not y our
Kites IN the fields in Beggsi 20 kite flying must be
c5elest and most common resort, the housetops
this necesstates a kite constructed that prac-
that the minimum OF Respiration be PRODUCED; So
paeeF 5e ks and Is Rn nds slips G hs latter @
tsFsI BENG 9cal If Tp d @ GT eend 0 tRe
The Bengal kite is constructed in the most char
acteristic stless Oriental fashion-merely square
Of tissue paper, the side of il measuring twelve or
At the most fifteen. inches in length, along one
bamboo. forming the length Of the kite From cor
Is attached: but this time bent TO a semi-circle
anee from the English kite is that in the latter the
senieircle is formed outside the square This bent
most fragile manner it is secured merely at the
corners and only serves the purpose Of keeping
the tissue paper extended fat and taut. Where the
attached. just about suficent to cause one end to
be recognized from the other The cotton Is
attached, and the kite balanced. so as to form
weighs weighs less than one ounce '''-'
In the evenings in Bengal steady breeze blows
fnlsnd from the bay. 1t is then that from the
housetops the little European community in The
sport Of kite flying; and there is sport in IT, as
shall presently show. As many az dozen Of these
time. of all coors. and many of them part-c9lored
Ewing ,f ysry " prey eee % e re6 ana IN be
kite. The ability TO do this. though requiring a
One kite Is sent up on couple Of hundred yards Of
thread; then another on about hundred yards;
thus connected with q. single line which may be
The inland breeze from the bay is So suitable
being gentle and steady for flying the kites that no
to ascend; they viii y Straight away from the
wea oI be ne man an 30 he naG o
quickly, and I'm a few moments a considerable alti-
great amount Of air pressure these little Bengan
kites will stand. On hauling them down the sides
with. the wind Ike a saw edge They, will fy
When number of kites were flying of an even
and this Started the sport BY judcio1s handling
OF kite its line could be jockeyed across the line
kite. and thus removing one opponent from the
the kite flyers and proportionately the ehagrin
Of its owner. Then evening after evening the dis
saes With hf interest TIE iniur1 he had reeeved
This soon led TO the survival of the ittest
All cotton lines were quickly nut out OF the field
and thread was the order OF the day: The great
success of competitor made all suspicious
last the secret leaked out-he had applied glass
powder 10 his line by means Of some Rummy sub
stsnes This was trick he had probably h9r. ,',o
fying. in many other scientific amus@ments
For while he was cutting threads right and
left and, being an old hard at the flying. all the
fun was for some time on his side From the time
his secret discovered demand sprang up In
dealers were not slow in taking advantage. and we
were once more on an equality.
Fame with kite made with half black and
haf white tissue paper. IL was a splendid flyer.
be distinguished great distance off After bring
ing down a coaple OF opponents. II became known
deal OF attention from ali coiored kites Which
might aptly be described in such connection as
For several evenings in succession the Pirate
promptly tackled all ehallengers, and. indeed for
rions must have their day and all records 20 hy the
hoard evening the Pirate was successfuilv
END % good S Pae oaeS as S nwsy ns was % h &
tance yell OF exultation raised by all the
rate had brought down five Of his kind and
though made and few many other black and
another Pirate"
n by these few notes have raised any interest
flying ] shall be gratihed. There are numerous
forms Of kites besides the ordinary English pat
obtained commercially IN this country. That the
latter should have been thought of sufficient i'm
that kite flying IS on the Increase an amuse-
rnent, and the art has now heen taken regularly
tinds and combinations OF kites have invented
for the purpose and are equipped with antoms nc
was reported that box kite had safely returned
with its records, from height Of liooo feet.