532 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1888. 



off and is collecting in the canal cut into the cavity from the side of the 

 lower piece of wood. Soon, as the motion progresses, the powder be- 

 gins to increase and to get darker, the odor of burning wood is noticed 

 and the smoke is seen. Probably when the next motion ceases there 

 will be a little curl of peculiarly colored smoke, which shows that active 

 combustion has begun. The pellet of ground-off wood may now be 

 shaken out of the slot or canal. At first it is dark ; a thin line of smoke 

 comes from it; gradually the fire spreads through it until it glows. 

 In this semi-charred dust the heat is held until it increases to about 

 450°, or higher. Everything depends on keeping the dust in a heap; 

 it is impossible to make fire without doing this. This is true in all 

 kinds of wooden fire-making tools. 



By examination of many specimens of aboriginal fire apparatus it is 

 found that both the drill and lower piece, which, for convenience, shall 

 be called the hearth, must be of dry, inflammable wood. Wood that is 

 soft from incipient decay is chosen ; most often pieces riddled by worms. 

 This is the felicis materia spoken of by Festus as used by the Vestals. 

 Wood of this kind is not only easier of ignition, but it is ground oft' 

 more easily and retains the heat generated until enough is accumu- 

 lated to ignite the powder. In strong, skillful hands fire can be made 

 from wood that does not wholly fulfill these conditions. 



Woods vary in combustibility, depending on their density, coloring 

 matter, and, perhaps, their chemical constitution. Sap wood of juniper 

 and soft, white maple yield fire with the bow, but light mesquite is the 

 best of all. The vascular, starchy flowering stems of plants have always 

 been a favorite fire-generating material. 



It will be seen that the Eskimo attachments to the simple drill enable 

 him to use wood ordinarily of no account for making fire. Sand is used 

 by Indians and other peoples to increase the friction. 



From the material in the collection at the Museum, it is found that 

 nearly every method that is or was used in the world is represented. 

 The following classification, based upon the presumed order of develop- 

 ment of the invention, is followed in this paper: 



I. — Fire-making by reciprocating motion. 



1. Simj)le, two-stick apparatus : Indians of the two Americas, Ainos, Soraalis, 



Kaffirs, Veddahs, Australians, etc. 



2. Four-part apparatus : Eskimo, some Indians, Hindoos, and Dyaks. 



3. Weighted drill, with spindle whorl ; Iroquois and Chukchis. 

 II. — Fire-making by sawing. 



Malays, Burmese, etc. 

 III. — Fire-making by plowing. 



Polynesians, Australians, and Pajiuans. 

 IV. — Fire-making by percussion. 



1. With pyrites, or stone containing iron, md flint ; Eskimo ^nd northern Jr» 

 dians. 



g. Witfi flint m^ste^'h' (jenerali 



