The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1897-07-03

in the past, and to the present day
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 dificult,
and, therefore, more meritorious in the
sight Of the gods. One of the objects in
the collection referred to is a so-called
fire 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 a stick revolve
rapidly in another piece of wood, thus
finally obtaining ignition. The Hin
docs, BY the way, have 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
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 a stick, the
point of which was inserted in a 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 a 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 a 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 a 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 1t, The feats they perform with it
far exceed the most wonderful acts of
fire-eating and fire-handling accom-
plished by civilized jugglers. In pre-
paration for the festival gigantic
heap of dry wood is gathered from the
desert. At the appointed moment the
great pile of infiammable brush is light
ed and in a few moments the whole of
1t is in one blaze. A storm of sparks
fly one hundred feet or more into the
air, and ashes fall about like a light
shower of snow. The ceremony always
takes place at night and the effect of
it is both weird and impressive.
Just when the fire is raging at its
hottest a whistle is heard from the
outer darkness, and a dozen warriors,
1.-THE and lean, dressed in narrow white
breech-cloths and moccasins simply
and daUbed with white earth so as to
look like so 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 of 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 a fright
ened lizard, endeavoring to wriggle |
himself up to the FIRE; others seek to |
catch on their wands the sparks that |
ny in the air. At last one by one they |
all succeed in burning the downy balls |
from the wands.
The test Of endurance Is very severe, |
the heat Of the fire being SO great. |
Having burned on 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-ereated. but in fact this