Sketches From Oldest America 



while a wooden mouth-piece was used to exert pres- 

 sure and to steady the instrument. It is still in use 

 for boring, a piece of wire having replaced the flint. 

 After the introduction of the bow and string and the 

 mouth-piece, it was found that the rapidly revolving 

 tool excited friction enough to produce fire. That 

 was the second method known, but it did not dis- 

 place the "igneen " which continued in use until 

 rendered obsolete by the well-known flint and steel. 

 This last is of comparatively recent introduction, 

 iron not having been known in Alaska until the past 

 fifty or sixty years. The domestic match, however, 

 has now almost displaced all the other methods, 

 although the flint and steel are still in use with some 

 of the older smokers. 



