14 Proceedings. 



Mr. Edward Lovett, of Croydon, described the Art op 

 MAKING Fire amongst all Peoples in all Times : — 



No animal is known to produce fire, whilst no race of men 

 has ever been known to be without fire. It is true that the 

 natives of the Andaman Islands were found to be without the 

 art of making fire, but they had obtained fire from other 

 islanders, and always kept it burning. 



Existing traces of prehistoric man are almost always 

 accompanied by charred remains, as in the Swiss Lake 

 Dwellings, and in Kitchen middens. 



It is possible that the earliest discovery of a way of pro- 

 ducing fire was through seeing forest trees set on fire by 

 friction, through their branches rubbing together in a high 

 wind. Or sparks may have been produced in the manufacture 

 of flints, and have ignited dry grass. 



The three modes of producing fire are by Friction, Per- 

 cussion, and Compression. 



We find no biblical allusions to the art of making fire, 

 though fire is often spoken of. 



In North-east Europe the oldest method of producing fire 

 of which we find traces is by flint and steel. From a cave in 

 Jersey, Mr. Lovett obtained probably the oldest flint and 

 steel in existence. The " steel " in this instance consisted of 

 a nodule of iron-pyrites. It is curious to have in this relic 

 of the flint age an approach to the iron period. 



Amongst the ways of producing fire by friction, found in 

 parts of South Africa amongst the Hottentots, and in 

 Australia, is the simple method of rubbing a stick rapidly 

 along a groove. In this method it is best to use a loose- 

 grained soft wood with a hard wood. The Wind River 

 Shoshone Indians use a somewhat similar fire-stick, which 

 they twirl violently round in a hole. The Esquimaux use a 

 fire-drill, which they cause to revolve by means of a thong 

 passed round the upright stick. The Zuni Indians use a bow 

 of walrus ivory to turn the drill. A more elaborate drill, 

 called the pump-drill, is in use amongst the Irriquois Indians, 

 and in the Pacific Islands, and elsewhere. It is notable as 

 being the only savage implement with which civilised men 

 can produce fire. 



