136 



EASTERN ETHIOPIA 



XI 



by the hands : this motion causes the soft wood to come 

 away as fine dust, and the heat generated liy the friction 

 of the drill against the fire-stick ignites the wood-dust. 

 AVhilst rotating the drill the fire-maker keeps the stick 

 firm by means of his toes. When the dust glows, a 

 little dry grass is dropped over it and some cautious 

 blowing produces a flame. 



All this sounds delightfully simple : an expert native 

 will ol)tain sparks and a. fire in half a minute, but an 



An Ndorobo obtaining fire by nieans of 

 a fire-stick and drill. 



inexperienced man may twirl the drill for an hour and 

 then give up the work in despair. The drill must be 

 twirled with a uniform motion ; the Iilowing, to produce 

 a fiame from the glowing dust, should be steady and 

 uniform. 



The smelting of iron is probably one of the oldest 

 industries in the world, and the art was discovered 

 independently by different races of men. The occupation 

 of Tubal-cain exists among the T)atives of East Africa 



