Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1896-05-21

they have ceremonials associated with
the making Of new fire at stated inter-
walls. For this purpose they always en-
ploy the most primitive method-that
is to say, the rubbing Of Two sticks to-
gether. For example, the Zunl use an
agaVe stick with sand to help the fric-
ton. The sand is wet. because this
renders the fire-making more difficult,
and, therefore, more meritorious in the
sight of the gods. One of the objects in
the collection referred to is so-called
IRE pump, utilized by the Onandagas at
the feast of the White Dog, at which a
white dog is sacrificed. This tool uti-
Lies the mechanism of the pump drill
for making the point of q stick revolve
rapidly in another piece of wood, thus
finally obtaining ignition. The Hin
docs, by the way, have a similar sacred
fire drill, by means of which they make
fire nine times each day for nine days
at periodical festival
The Hupa Indians, of California, are
remarkably expert fire makers. With
a couple Of simple sticks of soft mes
quite wood, which they keep very dry,
they can produce fire in ten seconds.
This method Of fire making requires
such expert manipulation that few
civilized men have ever been able to
acquire the art Mr.. Walter Hough,
one of the ethnologists Of the National
museum, knows how to do it. The
writer has seen him make fire in
couple of minutes by revolving between
the palms of his hands stick, the
point Of which was inserted in hole
In another piece of wood Presently
smoke would begin to come from the
hole, and soon a spark would catch
some finder Of which pinch was sup
piled for the purpose. For such finder
American savages use some very odd
things. The Eskimo of Point Barrow
employ for the purpose willow catkins;
those of Cumberland gulf use the white
fibre Of arctic cotton. while in some
parts Of Alaska shredded cedar bark is
made to serve. The aborigines of Ec-
uador employ for finder the Innings
from the nests of certain species Of
ants, while in Mexico a substitute is
found in kind OF fungus which is
soaked in saltpeter, dried, cut in sheets
and sold in small packets. In Japan
the flowers of species of artemisia are
dried for finder.
The most remarkable ceremonial Of
fire worship that survives in this coun-
try is practiced by the Navajos. They
believe in publication by fire, and to
this end they,literally wash themselves
in it. The feats they perform with it
far exceed the most wonderful acts Of
fire-eating and flre-handling accom-
plished by civilized jugglers. In pre-
paration for the festival a gigantic
heap of dry wood is gathered from the
desert At the appointed moment the
great pile of inflammable brush is light
ed and in few moments the whole Of
it Is in one blaze. A storm Of sparks
fly one hundred feet or more into the
air, and ashes fall about like light
shower of snow. The ceremony always
takes place at night and the effect of
1t is both weird and impressive.
Just when the fire is raging at its
hottest a whistle is heard from the
outer darkness, and dozen warriors,
1.-the and lean, dressed in narrow white
breech-cloths and moccasins simply
and dached with white earth so as to
look like 90 many living statues, come
bounding through the entrance of the
corral that encloses the flaming heap.
Yelping like wolves they move slowly
toward the fire, bearing aloft slender
wands tipped with balls of eagle down.
Running around the fire, always to the
left, they begin thrusting their wands
toward the fire, trying to burn off the
down from the tips. Owing to the in:
tensity of the heat this is difficult to
accomplish. One warrior dashes wildly
toward the fire and retreats; another
lies as close to the ground as fright
ened lizard, endeavoring to wriggle
himself up to the fire; others seek to
catch on their wands the sparks that
fly in the air. At last one by one they
all succeed in burning the downy balls
from the wands..
The test of endurance lie very severe,
the heat of the fire being so great.
Having burned off the balls Of down
the warriors next set about re-
storing them again. On the end
of each wand, one after another,
appears presently fresh ball of eagle
down. 1t is supposed to be the one that
was burned, re-created, but in fact this
is only a juggling trick. Each man
holds in his hand ring that is covered
with down. When the proper time
arrives he permits this ring to slide
along the wand to its extremity. The
performers in this ceremony sometimes
wear immense false moustaches and
huge spectacles, in imitation of the
white men.