FIRE AND ITS USES 



147 



of hard wood that is held in the hand and plowed back and forth 

 in a groove in a block of soft wood. A fine wood dust is thus 

 made in the groove which is ignited as the friction of the two 

 pieces of wood develops heat. The glowing spark is nursed 

 with shreds of dry bark or punk, blown into flame, and so the 

 fire is started. 



The fire drill (Fig. 58) works in much the same way except 

 that the stick of hard wood is given a rapid rotary motion while 

 its point is pressed 

 down into a shallow 

 hole in the softer wood. 

 Among some tribes 

 this rotary motion is 

 imparted to it while it 

 is held between the 

 palms of the hands. 

 In other cases the 

 thong of a bow is 

 wrapped about the 

 drill a time or two, 

 and as the bow is 

 drawn back and forth 

 the drill is turned 

 rapidly. The upper 

 end of the drill rests against a leather pad or wood block placed 

 against the chest. The operator of the drill kneels, bends 

 over the drill, and so has both hands free to operate the bow 

 or thong. 



The first match was devised by Chancel. It consisted of a 

 bit of wood tipped with a gum containing chlorate of potash 

 and sugar. This was dipped into strong sulphuric acid to ignite 

 it. Most persons preferred to carry flint and steel and tinder 

 box rather than sulphuric acid, for the latter burns badly and 

 makes holes in clothing wherever it touches. So this type of 

 match was never widely used. It was not until 1835 that the 



FIG. 58. Parts of a fire drill and its use 



