27 
moving about in the dark this motion is continual in order to 
keep alive sufficient flame to light the way. А large body of 
natives moving at night in the usual Indian file, and each carry- 
ing the burning stick in the way described, forms a striking 
sight.* The firestick will naturally not be so constant a com- 
panion during the summer months. 
The actual process of fire-making, depending upon the principle 
of heat development by friction upon the abrasion of two pieces 
of wood, is employed in various ways. 
In one case a perfectly dry rod of mulga is cleft at one end, the 
split enlarged on one side and packed with dry blades of grass. 
The implement thus constructed is called “© pinjilere.” А spear- 
thrower (“mero”) is placed with its edge over the fissure directly 
above the dry grass and at right angles to the length of the rod, 
and rapidly rubbed backwards and forwards. Ultimately the 
friction causes the wood to char at its edge; particles are detached 
by the abrasion, it begins to smoke by slight combustion, and 
eventually a tiny detached spark falls upon the dry blades of grass 
At this moment the native ceases to work the “mero,” and forces 
the spark into a flame by gentle blowing. When the spark has 
“ taken,” the contents of the cleft are emptied on to a small heap 
of dry grass and leaves upon the ground, and by continual 
blowing a rapidly growing flame is produced. 
Dry roots of trees (mulga) are similarly used. A root, 
about eighteen inches long, has one end rounded off; this 
is placed in a small hole in a second piece which is kept 
firmly resting against the ground by the native who sits beside it. 
This he achieves by placing the side of one foot over one end of 
the root, and the knee of the opposite leg upon the other end. At 
the same time he rapidly twirls the loose root between the flat 
palms of his hands, the rounded end of this rod fitting or subse- 
quently adapting itself to the depression or hole in the lower root. 
The wood-dust that accumulates by the abrasion eventually begins 
to smoulder, and finds its way along a small groove leading out 
from this hole; thence it falls upon a fragment of bark placed 
below the groove, and is kindled into a flame as described above. 
The hands of the native, by virtue of the downward pressure 
exerted upon the root, gradually find their way from top to 
bottom of the upright root. They are then rapidly replaced 
to the top and the half-backward and half-forward rotation 
restarted. 
The Making of Strands of Fur, etc.— On several occasions twis- 
ted strands of fur that are variously employed by the natives 
have been mentioned. Opportunity was afforded to watch the 
* Witnessed on the evening of May 22, at Mount Davies. 
