Wichita eagle., 1890-02-07
FIRE MADE BY FRICTION.
HOW THE THING IS DONE BY Ma
TNES IN MANY COUNTRIES.

The Rubbing Of Dry Sticks Together II
the Favorito Method-Cruas I.ven4aona
Which Require Dexterous Hand ia
Operate-The Pottery and Fungus Plan.
One of the first things every child
learns about fire is that certain savage
races produce it by the rubbing of two
sticks. Delightfully."- simple as the de-
scription Of the process is, any one who
has tried to perform the operation viii
certify that it is by no means an easy
one, and very likely will afterward de-
clare ferventiy upon oath that the thing
cannot be done. Many travellers have
tried, under the most auspicious circum-
stances-in countries where the prodnc-
ton of fire. in this manner is in every
day use, with q grinning native to choose
the weapons and give a practical exhi-
bition of his own skiu-and after many
joint and muscle aching experiments
have given up the attempt in state Of
mind bordering on temporary insanity.
1--WE ourselves, writes a traveller, "have
been successful just often enough to un-
derstand the uncertainty Of the opera
ton"
JUDGMENT AND DRXTERTTY.
In the first place judgment is required
in choosing the sticks. The immense
variety Of ropic vegetation furnishes
many sorts that answer the purpose, but
many also that Will not; an expert some
times may be long IN finding two species
suitable. One must be light and soft,
the other heavy, of close texture, and
both must be dry. Upon the heavy bit
he cuts two grooves, in the form of a
cross, fixes it tight-with his prehensive
toes probably-shaapens the light bit,
places it in the Intersections Of the cross,
and twirls it steadily between his palms.
Gradually tinder forms, in the shape of
dust, which drops down the grooves in a
tiny heap on either side. IF the twirfing
be interrupted for second that repre-
sents SO much waste time, which must
be recovered at enormous interest. II
the heavy piece shifts the tinder is dis
placed.
But the power Of originating Ere m
this manner with facility is not an &C
complshnent possessed by every one,
even IN the countries where ehe practice
exists. The inhabitants of the tropics do
not always depend wholly upon their
two sticks; among many tribes they are
nothing but last resort. They have
other methods Of producing fire. A ma
tive carries in his betel box perhaps a
fragment Of hard pottery and morsel
of dry fungus. Fixing bit of the latter
in the hollow of the former, and holding
il down with the thun1b-in such q way
that it follows the edge-he sn,artty
strikes his box. which IS bamboo, Of
course, Just as if he were handling flint
and steel. The fungus tlndIer is glowing
in an instant.
The friction methods in use In differ
ent parts of the world are various One
of the simplest is with the stick and
groove-a blunt pointed stick being run
along groove of its own making In a
piece of wood lying On the ground. In
Tahiti Mr.. Darwin saw q native produce
FIRE in few seconds, but only succeeded
himself after much labor. This device
is employed in New Zealand, the Sand
wich Islands, Tonga, Samoa and the
Radack Islands. Instead Of rubbing the
movable stick backward and forward,
other tribes make 1t rotate rapidly N a
round hole in the stationary piece Of
wood. in the manner referred to, thus
making. as happily designated. fire
drill. This device has been observed In
Australia, Kauschatka, Sumatra and
the Csrolines, among the Yeddahs Of
eyion. throughout great part OF South
Africa, among the Esquimauu snd In
dian tribes of North America, tn the
West Indies, IN Central America and as
far south as the STRAITS Of AagefiAn- L
was aiso employed by the ancient Mexi-
cans, and Ar. Tav,or gives . quaint pset-
ure of the operation from Mexican Ms,
IN which man. half kneefing On the
ground. is causing the stick - rot.se Be-
tween the palms of bis own haoda This
simple method Of rotation seems 10 be
generally in use, bus various devices |
have been resorted TO for the purpose Of |
the labor and hAssenias the |
result
rHY FIRE pKKL
Tie Guarho cf the Panpas takes "a. |
elastic stick abocs eiEhseen inches long,
presses one end 20 his breass and the |
other IN the hole in piece Of wood. and
then rapidly turns the curved part hike |
a csrpeCsers censer Ds& In other cases |
the rotation 4 affected ey means cf 3 |
cord or thong wound roaad the dril and |
pulled alternately ~ shis end ana shas.
A further a6vaDre v.s naae ~ some |
Norta Amer1cAa In&isns. who appear 70 !
have aaph~d shs prInciDle ef the so~ |