2 Field Museum of Natural History 



bench, in front of which stands the bellows — two up- 

 right cylinders made of logs hollowed out. In each of 

 these is a piston or plunger, at the lower end of which 

 is a wooden ring packed with corn husks and chicken 

 feathers. When a plunger is pushed downward in the 

 cylinder, it compresses the air and forces it out of the 

 small opening in the base, but when it is drawn up, the 

 packing collapses and allows it to be raised without 

 effort. These pistons are worked alternately so that 

 one is rising, while the other is falling. 



Two bamboo tubes, attached to the bellows, conduct 

 the air into a cylinder of fire clay, and this in turn 

 carries it into the charcoal fire. These bamboos fit 

 loosely into the clay cylinder, thus taking the place of 

 valves and preventing the drawing of the fire back into 

 the bellows. 



Near to the hearth is a stone anvil, while a heavy 

 stone hammer, a small stone hammer, and pinchers of 

 the same material complete the outfit. The fire is 

 lighted, and the operator sitting on the bench raises and 

 lowers the plungers in the cylinders until the fire burns 

 brightly; then the smith puts the metal into the coals, 

 and allows it to remain until it reaches a white heat. 

 It is then removed and placed on the anvil, where his 

 helper beats it out with the large hammer. This is a 

 stone weighing twenty or more pounds, fitted inside the 

 handles, so that it can be used with both hands. As a 

 rule, it is swung between the legs, and is allowed to 

 strike the metal as it descends, but some of the men 

 raise it above the shoulder and strike a much more 

 powerful blow. If two pieces of metal are to be welded 

 together, as is often the case when broken cauldrons are 

 used, they are laid one overlapping the other, and are 

 held together with damp fire clay. In this condition 

 they are placed in the fire and heated, being then 



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