FIEE AS AN AGENT IN HUMAN CULTURE 81 



trices being usually formed by other means. The first sickness which 

 a Chinese child has, moxa is apphed to the crown of the head. ^^ 



Regarding fire in religious ceremonies, Buddhist novitiates are 

 admitted to the priesthood by having their heads burned in the pre- 

 scribed way by the moxa. ''^ 



In Korea the priests use a three-prong taper made by twisting soft 

 paper in the form of a cross for burning the skin in self -punishment. 

 Specimens of these rare tapers are in the United States National 

 Museum. 



In Japan moxa was in common use and applied ceremonially. 



Wood remarks that the Unyoro Tribe of Africa hold the actual 

 cautery in great favor as a method of cure. Many natives are cov- 

 ered with spots from the application of a red-hot iron.^^ 



Some other customs of fire healing may be mentioned. The Mex- 

 icans cure mosquito bites by holding a coal of fire near the bite.^" 



The Porto Ricans make chiggers "back out" by holding a lighted 

 cigarette or coal of fire to the rear of the insect.'^ 



WAR 



Fire as a war agency has an extended history. Its development 

 has been tremendous with the advancement of science. It enters now 

 in many ways for the killing of men. The early methods reflects the 

 crudity of the stages of man's developement in the arts and industries 

 and are found in use among various tribes. These vary from direct 

 attack to strategic burnings, the hurling of heated missiles, pitch, 

 oil, and lead. A method of attack widely known was by fu-e arrows, 

 an extension probably of an earUer throwing of firebrands. ^^ The Wa 

 Chaga of the Mount Kihma-Njaro region, British East Africa, used 

 fire arrows as an incendiary weapons." The Lacandones of Chiapas, 

 Mexico, threw Ughted fagots into the enemy's camp and in the confu- 

 sion made reprisals. ^* 



The North American Indians generally shot fire arrows when their 

 use was practicable. They also made a hurhng weapon not hereto- 

 fore described, which consisted of a heavy wood missile with bulbous 

 head and flexible shaft, capable of being thrown a long distance and 

 having a direct, steady flight. The head of the weapon was bound 

 with an inflammable material and the missile tlu'own. This weapon is 

 more effective than the arrow and more primitive. Specimens from 

 the southern Plains tribes are in the United States National Museum. 



"Information by W. W. Rockhill. 



"Douglass. History of China, p. 360. 



« J. O. Wood. Natural History of Mankind, 1870, vol. 1, p. 468. 



M Information by Dr. Ales Hrdlicka. 



'« Information by Dr. E. R. Hodge. 



" H. H. Bancroft. Wild Tribes, 1874, vol. 1. p. 697. 



'• Information by Mrs. French Sheldon. 



'< H. H. Bancroft. Wild Tribes, 1874, vol 1, p. 697. 



