AKT. 14 



FIRE-MAKING APPARATUS HOUGH 



39 



Eskimo hearth yet observed has side holes and slots like this with- 

 out the step. The Indians of this region are of the great Athapascan 

 stock of the North. The close resemblance of this stick to the one 

 from the Washoans of Nevada has been commented upon. (See fig. 

 6, p. 14.) 



There is a very fine old central-hole hearth from the Macken- 

 zie River, collected also by Mr. Ross. It is a rough billet of branch 

 wood, cut apparently with an ax, or hatchet. (Fig. 27.) It is semi- 

 decayed and worm eaten. It has 10 central holes where fire has 



Fig. 25. — Fieb bag. Cat. No. 10128, U.S.N.M. Eskimo of Holsteinberg, WESt Green- 

 land. Collected by Capt. C. F. Hall 



been made; they are quite deep, forming a gutter in the middle of 

 the hearth. There is, as can be seen, no need of a groove, as the 

 dust falls over into the next hole, collects in a mass, and ignites. 



The Anderson River set is a very complete and interesting outfit. 

 It was collected many years ago by C. P. Gaudet. The parts are 

 small for convenience of carrying. It is the custom of those who live 

 in snow-covered regions to wrap the drill and hearth together very 

 carefully to keep them dry, as these are the essential parts of the 

 apparatus. It does not matter about the mouth-piece or bow. In 

 this example there is a groove cut along the bottom of the hearth in 

 order to facilitate tying the drill and hearth securely together. The 



