FIRE-MAKING 55 



they are well lubricated, that they set the oil on fire, and 

 it is said there is a "hot box," 



The old way of making fire depended upon friction. 

 So great heat can be produced by rapidly rubbing two 

 sticks together that they may be caused to glow, and even 

 burst into flame. Indians used this method for making 

 fire but it is hard to do, and requires skill and patience. 

 There is an easier way to accomplish the same result, 

 which we will now try. 



Experiment 28. Primitive Fire-making. 



Materials: Two blocks of wood 2"x4"x6", circular 

 wooden rod 7"long and pointed at both ends, a bow and 

 string, similar to the one used in Experiment 15, lubricat- 

 ing oil or grease. 



a. Bore a hole part way through the blocks at their 

 center points, and arrange the apparatus as shown in the 

 illustration. Lubricate the hole in the top block but put 

 nothing in the hole in 

 the lower block. Why 

 is this done? Bear down 

 hard on the top block 

 and move the bow back- 

 ward and forward very 

 rapidly. You may not 

 be able to make the lower block burn but you should be 

 able to make it smoke. Does the hole in the upper block 

 become equally hot? Why? This apparatus is called a 

 fire drill ; and this method of obtaining fire also was used 

 in olden times. 



Another method of making fire was by means of the 

 flint and steel. Flint is a very hard stone and when it is 



