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THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY 



rather than by the readier means discovered in later times. Thus, 

 when the vestals permitted the sacred fire to go out, it was rekindled 

 by means of the sun's rays, concentrated by a lens. A similar method 

 was employed by the ancient priests of Peru in kindling the sacrificial 

 fire. 



Fig. 4 Fike-Dkill of the Oauchos. (Tylor.) 



An instrument resembling that employed by the Brahmans of 

 India is to this day in use among the Esquimaux and the Aleuts (Fig. 

 G). It consists of a rod, one end of which fits into a mouth-piece, and 

 the other into a hole in a piece of dry wood. The rod is twirled by 

 means of a thong wound twice around it, and pulled to the right and 

 left alternately by the hands. 



Slight modifications occur in the form of the fire-drill, and various 

 instruments have been devised to serve the same purpose. For in- 

 stance, there are the bow-drill and the pump-drill, which latter is used 

 both for obtaining fire and for boring holes in wood, stone, and metal 

 (Figs. 5 and V). 



Fig. 5. Bow-Drill, used bt the Sioux. (Tylor.) 



Of other means of procuring fire we will simply mention, in passing, 

 the striking together of flints, or flint and steel, or iron pyrites; strik- 

 ing together two pieces of bamboo (this method peculiar to China) ; 

 compressing air in a tube of ivory or of wood (a process adopted by 

 the Malays, etc.). 



