FIRE-MAKING APPARATU.S. 



551 



sticks of the Aiuos of Yezo (No. 129970, fig. 17) were loaned to the 

 Museum by Prof. F.W. Putuam, who also secured the following letter 

 of Mr. D. P. Penballow, who collected 

 the sticiis: 



At our request the chief brought several fire- 

 -sticks to my house, together with the ueces- 

 sary number of meu to get fire iu the axjproved 

 style. Upou examination the sticks were found 

 to be from 6 to 9 inches long, and very dry. 

 Our informant stated that they were from the 

 root of the elm XJlmus campestris, var. Iwvis, and 

 that it was customary to keep a sui>ply ahead, 

 as the sticks require to be seasoned, for about 

 one year, by hanging them from the rafters of 

 the house above the fire. To prepare them for 

 the process of making fire, a shorter stick was 

 cut flat on opposite sides, and about midway 

 of one of the flattened sides a small hole was 

 made with the point of the knife for the pur- 

 pose of establishing the center of action. 

 Another stick about 9 inches long was then 

 well sharpeued at one end. Three men now 

 seated themselves in a circle, facing inward, 

 with the flattened ^tick notclied side upper- 

 most in the center. 



The point of the long stick was now placed 

 in the notch, and with the stick in a vertical 

 ]30sition and grasped between the extended 

 paliiis of the hands, a steady and soinewhat 

 fast rotating pressure was brought to bear, 

 exactly as in the use of the old-fiishioncd awl. 

 As soon as the first man became weary, the 

 second brought his hands to bear upou the 

 upper end of the stick, and continued the mo- 

 tion without allowing it to cease. This was 

 repeated as often as necessary until fire was 

 obtained. Owing to the very dry character of 

 the sticks used, the parts in contact rapidly 

 wear away, so that the notch quickly becomes 

 cup-shaped, and the pointed end is correspond- 

 ingly rounded, while at the same time the 

 powdery product is thrown out, forming a 

 raised ring on all sides. Before long it is observed that the powfler acquires a 

 brownish tinge. This gradually deepens as the temperature rises until finally a deli- 

 cate line of smoke warns the operator that the eud is near. 



The motiou is now continued until the suioke is well established, when the verti^- 

 cal stick is raised, disclosing a spark on its end. The mouth is applied to the oppo- 

 site extremity, and by means of a few vigorous pulls as if smoking a cigar, owing to 

 the porous nature of the stick, the spark is drawn into a flame. 



The actual operation as witnessed by us consumed about two hours, and the Aiuos 

 state that the process requires froui one and one-half to two and one-half hours. 



The sticks figured are the actual ones that were used in the operation 

 above described. 



Fig. 17. 

 FiEE-MAKiNo Set wri'H TOUCUWOOD. 



(Cat. No. 1299/0, U. 

 Collected hy 1). I'. 

 seu?n, through Prof, 



S. N. M. Ainos of Yezo, Japati. 

 Ppiihallow. Lent by J'eahoily Mu- 

 F. \V. Putnam. ) 



