The Toda community of the Nilgiri Hills in Tamil Nadu, India, which are known for their exotic culture and crafts. Long bamboo with a broadened middle section tapering toward the ends is truly a typical Toda bow stave.
The slave's configuration allows the bowstring to be notched at either end and displays a deep shallow groove along the stave's medial part for functional improvement. Also visible on it are six remnants of nodes, equidistantly set apart from each other, indicating careful craftsmanship. Historically, it has been pastoralism based exclusively on buffalo herding, although dairy people and biomass hut builders have risen to prominence. The boring and weapons-making did also suit the Toda for habitation-mostly being based on their own purposes. The craft in question shows how this idyllic people could make use of their materials like bamboo-in which the Nilgiri area is rich-to produce efficaciously flexible and strong bows and arrows.
Functional yet the most ergonomically defined design was noticed in the making of grooves and notches of this bow. These functional details ensure maximum efficiency while working with the tool and make its use comfortable as well, demonstrating an understanding of archery and tool making. Storing these artifacts in museums provides rich material for understanding the cultural heritage of the Toda and how they keep their balance with nature. The study of such artifacts enriches a larger understanding of indigenous peoples and the reason for keeping up their way of life.