FIRE AS AN AGENT IN HUMAN CULTURE 143 



in progress or on special occasions. The Pueblos had a well-devel- 

 oped fire cult, now much decayed and obsolete, but their practices 

 were magical, and perpetual fire was absent. The discovery of a 

 prehistoric "fire temple" at Mesa Verde in connection with cliff 

 dwellings by Dr. Walter Fewkes shows the fire cult at its zenith, but 

 does not render it possible to say that perpetual fire was an element 

 of this cult. If the perpetual fire was ever a Pueblo institution, these 

 tribes have now advanced to the belief that fire rubbed ceremonially 

 from the two sticks is adequate for the purposes of worship. 



The sentiment of the perpetuation of the family fire Mdiich serves 

 to connect the past with the present is uncovered in the custom of 

 many persons who still carry an ember from the old house to the 

 new when changing the dwelling place.® 



STRANGE FIRE AND PURE FIRE 



The idea that fire could be contaminated and that there were 

 various grades and classes of fire is of early development. It is 

 represented in the innumerable taboos guiding the manners in respect 

 to attitude toward fire. 



Thus it is forbidden for a man to spit into a fire; he would wither 

 and dry up soon.^° 



It is forbidden to point a sharp instrument toward the fire and to 

 burn certain unworthy substances in the fire. 



Wild fire and strange fire are terms applied to fire that does not 

 comply with certain regulations which purity prescribes. Fire wliich 

 has been stolen from a family hearth is of this class, as it becomes in 

 alien hands the means of practicing witchcraft harmful to the 

 family. 



In contrast with strange fire we have pure fire. The length to 

 which the process of obtaining pure fire was carried is observed by 

 the customs of the Persian fire worshippers, who held that the purest 

 fii'e was that of lightning, which came from the clouds. The strong- 

 est fire, which kills all demons, is compounded of 15 different fires. 

 The fire sticks were venerated, and Atharavan or fire priest made 

 the sacrifices. This fire was not to be contaminated by the breath 

 of the priest, who was compelled to wear a white cloth over his face 

 when sacrificing. 



The Hindu customs were similar and represent an extremely bur- 

 densome process in obtaining pure fire. 



The enigmatic statement in the Bible as to the offering of strange 

 fire has never received explanation. " 1. And Nadab and Abihu, the 

 sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, 

 and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the Lord, 



•Information by Miss Anita Long, January, 1911. 



••George Brown. Melanesians and Polynesians, 1910, p. 206. 



