ARTS AND HANDICRAFTS 315 



lightning which may set fire to and burn up the roots of trees 

 even where deeply buried in the ground.) 



One method for obtaining fire consisted in rubbing or 

 twisting two different sorts of wood together ; this was per- 

 haps suggested by the fact that when smoothing or polishing 



- J -_ ^A 



FIG. 142. 



Stone plaques from the civic monument in Skine. (Homes, Urgeschichte der 



Kunst.) 



wood a sensation of increased warmth was always obtained. 

 Further experiment led to the production of smoke and flame. 

 This is the explanation of the legend of Prometheus which has 

 its forerunner in the Indian sagas. Agmi, the heavenly fire, 

 has been hidden, but is stolen by Matarishvan and given back to 



