White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1928-09-07
MANS STRUGGLES
!. FOR FIRE TRACED
Progress Shown in Smith
sonian Collection.

Washington, d. C.-The conven-
fence of the modern match tends to
conceal the milleniums of primitive
mans struggle to make fire. How
difficult and important an achieve
ment this control was is brought out
by DR.. Walter Hough's study Of the
fire-making apparatus in the Nation
al Museum, published by the Smith.
sonian institution. This is revision
and modernization of work first
published 40 years ago and which has
long been unavailable to collectors.
"The origin Of fire making" writes
Doctor Hough, "need not be put very
far back in time" For ages before
men knew how to make 1t, he contin-
ues, they preserved fire after light
ming and volcano had brought it on
illustrating the extraordinary ability
developed by primitive peoples in the
preservation of fire he instances the
| Cherokee Indians of North Carolina
who kept fire buried In the mounds
upon which the council houses were
built, so that If the house were de-
stroyed by enemies the fire would re-
main there for year or more.
FireIess Period in History
Doctor Hough questions the theory
that fire is indispensable to all hui
mankind under all conditions, point
ing out that very many fire myths pos
sessed by primitive peoples recount
stage of firelessness and wrestling of
fire from those having it.
Doctor Hough believes that the va
rious methods of producing fire by
friction of wood on wood probably
preceded the methods invoking the use
of minerals. He suggests means
by which man may have developed
the friction method, after long pre-.
liminary period "during which man
gained a growing acquaintance with
the properties of various substances
Friction is a common expert.
ence and handling wood or working
In wood might give to keen percep-
lions an odor, vapor of smoke, sug
costing that there was fire present."
L. which could be brought out
by friction.
That the primitive fire tool should
take the nature of drill is explained
by the ancient character of the drill!
for piercing holes in all kinds Of sub.
stances by abrasion.
In the early explorations of Amer
lea, the Indian, almost without excep
ton, used the friction apparatus con-
sisting of two sticks of wood.
Primitive methods Of fire making
aid in determining racial relation.
ships. Thus about all Eskimo tribes
use a four-piece fire drill, consist
ing of mouthpiece, drill, cord
for turning the drill, and hearth.
and other races have their own par.
ticular methods. The use of the
mouth drill is almost more than the
white mans teeth will stand.
Nature Demonstrates Way.
In the Malay archipelago nature
seems to have shown the way to make
fire. 1t appears that many fires arc
started in the jungle by bamboo rub
bling together In high windstorm
Thus the natives use two specially cut
pieces of bamboo which when sawed
one against the other produce fire.
In view Of the history of fire, Its
Importance to man, it's power, and
the mystery of it, there need be no
surprise at the existence in many
parts of the primitive world Of fire
worship. Even in our day something
of this attitude toward fire can be-
found among certain African tribes
Doctor Hough quotes II. II. Johnston
to the effect that among the Wata
veita fire making is the exclusive
privilege Of the men, and the secret
is handed down from father to SON
and never under any condition re
vealed to women. man was asked
the reason for this. "Oh." said ne
IF women knew how to make fire
they would become our masters"
Among some Africans who are mas.
tiers in metal work the anomalous
custom obtains of using wooden drills
to light the fire which melts their
iron.
Two pieces of pyrites or flint and
pyrites appear to have been the frs
agencies used for producing spark
by percussion. In North America the
percussion method is found In use
among the northerly ranging Indians
and the Eskimo of some parts
Doctor Houghs study is based on
the National museum collection OF
fire-making apparatus, which has
been gathered from all over the world
by Smithsonian explorers, consuls.
military and naval men and friends
of the institution. 1t Is an unsur
passed collection