TASHINSHA, brocket deer
Citation
David Jabin, “TASHINSHA, brocket deer,” String figures, accessed February 24, 2026, https://stringfigures.huma-num.fr/items/show/99.
- Overall presentation
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Name : TASHINSHA, brocket deer
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Creator : David Jabin
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Contributor(s) : Paulina Pérez, village of Samaria, Nivacle Unida Comunity, Central Chaco, Paraguay
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Date : 2019-2020
- Information on the string figure
This string figure represents the head of a brocket deer (both the Mazama americana or Mazama gouazoubira species). The upper round loops represent the marge ears of the animal. TASHINSHA is second and principal figure of a series comprising three figures.
1. Opening A
2. Proximally, insert 1345 into 2 loops.
3. Transfer 2 loops to the wrists
4. Pass the mouth away from you through the little triangle made by Wn and 1f. With the teeth, seize 5f.
5. Release 5
6. Distally, insert 5 into the teeth loop and transfer this loop to 5. Return to position.
7. Release W loops and extend.
8. Two triangles appear on both sides. Proximally insert R2 into the left triangle and return.
9. Distally insert L2 in R2 loop. Proximally insert L2 into the right triangle and return.
10. Proximally, transfer 2 loops to 3 and 1 loops to 2.
11. With R1 and R2 grab L5 loop and drop it from the finger. Rotate horizontally this loop 180 clockwise. Proximally transfer it to both L1 and L5.
12. Repeat 14 on the R hand.
13. Proximally, insert 1 into 2 loops (close to indices), pick up 2n and return.
14. Navaho 1.
15. Distally, insert 2 into the little triangles near the thumbs.
16. Turn the palms away while releasing 3 and 5.
17. Extend carefully.
2. Proximally, insert 1345 into 2 loops.
3. Transfer 2 loops to the wrists
4. Pass the mouth away from you through the little triangle made by Wn and 1f. With the teeth, seize 5f.
5. Release 5
6. Distally, insert 5 into the teeth loop and transfer this loop to 5. Return to position.
7. Release W loops and extend.
8. Two triangles appear on both sides. Proximally insert R2 into the left triangle and return.
9. Distally insert L2 in R2 loop. Proximally insert L2 into the right triangle and return.
10. Proximally, transfer 2 loops to 3 and 1 loops to 2.
11. With R1 and R2 grab L5 loop and drop it from the finger. Rotate horizontally this loop 180 clockwise. Proximally transfer it to both L1 and L5.
12. Repeat 14 on the R hand.
13. Proximally, insert 1 into 2 loops (close to indices), pick up 2n and return.
14. Navaho 1.
15. Distally, insert 2 into the little triangles near the thumbs.
16. Turn the palms away while releasing 3 and 5.
17. Extend carefully.
- Item references
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Key words : String figures, Nivacle, paraguayan Chaco
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Publisher : Laboratory SPHERE (UMR 7219, University of Paris & CNRS)
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Rights : Creative Commons / Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike CC BY-NC-SA
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Format : jpeg, mp4, text
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Language : Nivacle, spanish
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Location : Village of Samaria, Boquerón Department, Paraguay, South America
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Description : Nivacle string figure, method of construction, linguistic data, cultural aspects