Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1892-12-22
EARLY FIREMAKING.
SOME CURIOUS METHODS IN USE
AMONG VARIOUS PEOPLES.
NOW Natives of Borneo Produce Fire BY
theCenpression of Air-IgnitinE finder
by Saving and "PIowing"-How the

the Compression of Air-Isniting finder
by Saving and "PIowing''-How the
Chemical Match Came to Be Invented.
The most curious of all known methods
OF making IRE is practiced by the native
tribes OF Borneo and Burmah Funnily
enough, the instrument which they en-
ploy is utilized for the same purpose TO-
day by the scientific physicist in.the Ia
ooratory. The primitive form of appa-
ratus used by the barbarous people above
referred to Is simply n cylinder of buffalo
norm, with sort of piston that fits into it,
IN tho receptacle that holds this fire
syringe" as it is called, is also carried a
small box filled with finder. When fire is
wanted piece of finder is placed in the
hoiiowed end OF the piston, which is there
upon inserted into the mouth of the cylip-
her OF buffalo horn. Holding the cylinder
Ia the left hand the operator strikes the
knob of the piston smart blow with the
open right hand, the force being sufficient
to drive it home
owing to the natural law by which COM
pressed air gives up heat under reduction
OF volume, the finder in the end of the Ms
ton catches fire and is seen to be alieht.
wnen the piston is instantly and quickly
Withdrawn after the blow has been struck.
Uentie breathing upon the spark fans its
commencing glow; fresh finder is applied.
which catches fire Immediately; more
blowing increases the fame and scraped
wood and then small sticks are added TO
make the beginning of a blaze Easy as
this process for obtaining fire looks. it re-
Quires no little skill and practice.
very interesting monograph on the
nremaking methods of the world, among
which this one is referred to, is published
oy the Smithsonian institution. The well
known process of obtaining the spark of
ignition by drilling with revolving stick
into another piece Of wood is first described
it varies IN manner SO much that some
saVages can get fire in this way in a frac-
ton OF a minute. while the Amos of Japan
require two hours or more for the purpose.
Next is mentioned the plan of making fire
by saving, which is in common use among
the Malays and throughout the East In.
dies. nntive will cut V shaped slit in
branch of the oil tree, put knife edge
ON piece of iron wood, saw quickly back
and forth with the latter in the V, and in
less than three minutes he will have set
ure with the incandescent sawdust pro
duced by the friction to finder held under
meath. Then he will put the ignited
Under in bunch of dry leaves wrap them
IN dried grass. whirl the bundle around
his head and have flame in "jiffy."
However, the usual method Of firemak-
ing by saving practiced by these people is
TO take two pieces of bamboo-one a hol.
lowed convex strip. and the other prepared
with an edge like a knife. The former in
placed with the convex side up. and the
knife edge IS sawed rapidly back and forth
across it. Presently the followed convex
piece Is pierced through the top by the
saw, and the incandescent dust falls upon
finder beneath, ignting the latter Some
times the process is reversed, and the con-
veI piece holding the finder is sawed upou
the bamboo knife, which is fixed with the
edge up. Bamboo is an excellent friction
material; the siliceous coating is favorable
for the development OF great heat. while
{ he soft. marrowy substance inside is very
iuhamu8ble.
Quite as odd is the only method of Ere
making known to the Polynesians, to
whom it exclusively belongs-namely. that
Of the blowing stick" The operator rubs
n groove in a piece OF soft wood with thu
end Of stick of hard wood, the rubbing
stick wearing of particles Of the soft wood
and pushing them along in q heap at tho
end OF a groove. By acceleration of the
motion they are brought up to the point Of
ignition. Much experiences is required to
perform the process successfully, but fame
* said TO be procured directly without the
u Se of finder
The modern lucifer match il superior to
al other devices for producing FIRE. sayn
The author of the monograph quoted, Mr..
Walter Hough, since it combines in one
instrument arrangements for the creation
oi the spark. for catching it on finder and
for starting blaze-steps requiring sepa-
rite operations in the primitive machines.
or the devices which preceded the friction
match the nearest likeness to it was the
s,lint of infammabie wood tipped with
sulphur, which accompanied the finder
box, the invention Of the flint and steel
S;rike-a-light necessitating some device to
convert the spark into n flame. For this
purpose the Eskimo applies a wick soaked
in oil to the spark and blows it alipht.
Erimstone matches are found in Japan in
the shape of broad, thin shavings tipped
along one end with sulphur In Mexico
cotton wicks dipped in sulphur are SINH
l.;rly employed.
"Spunks," the common name for sulints
tipped with sulphur, were in general use
in this country prior to 1925, and fingered
In out of the way places long after the in
production of matches. In certain districts
o. France today they are still in use, being
much more economical than matches from
tie point of view of people of simple hab-
iI<. Hunting parties and exploring expe-
t:Itions bound for distant countries usually
curry, besides matches, strike-a-lights, for
\ uSe in case matches are exhausted or
II eet with some of the many accidents to
VI hich they are liable. Patents are still
suught from time to time for pipe lighting
contrivances, involving the use Of flint and
=, eel struck together by some more or less
simple mechanical device. A variation OF
the "spunks" was curled shavings tipped
" it'll sulphur.
At the beginning a very general preju-
6lce was felt against friction matches be-
,..,usa thav uare noorlv made bpno frc