FEATHER-STICK.— MODE OF PROCURING FIRE. 
579 
In hot weather they sometimes carry an umbrella made with 
ostrich-plumes fixed round a small circular piece of stiff hide through 
the centre of which a long stick passes and forms the handle. The 
whole apparatus has precisely the form of our parasols, and differs 
only in its materials ; but has an exceedingly elegant appearance. 
The smaller black feathers which cover the wings and body of 
that bird, are applied to a very different, but equally useful, purpose. 
They are tied round a thin stick of the size of the shaft of a hassagay, 
which is thus covered for two or three feet along the upper part of 
its length ; their points turning outwards. This feather-stick often 
renders the natives important service when hunting or attacking the 
larger and more ferocious wild animals. If in approaching too near, 
these creatures should suddenly turn upon them, their only chance 
of escaping, is by immediately fixing the feather-stick into the 
ground, and taking to flight. As this apparatus is always carried in 
a manner to be most conspicuous, the animal, seeing it standing up 
before him, mistakes it for the man himself, and vents his fury upon 
it : by which stratagem the man gains time, either to escape to a 
place of safety, or till his companions come up to his assistance. 
In this manner the life of one of my Hottentots was once saved 
from an enraged rhinoceros. 
When they are on a journey, and often at other times, they 
carry suspended from their neck, a lorido or stick for procuring fire. 
Nothing can be more simple, as it consists only of two sticks about 
six inches long and not so thick as a finger. On the side of one of 
these, several round hollpws, although one would be sufficient, have 
been cut out for the purpose of receiving the end of the other stick. 
When they have occasion for fire, either for cooking their food or for 
lighting their pipe, they place the hollowed stick on the ground and 
hold it steady by pressing the foot upon one end : some dry wood is 
then scraped into one of the holes, and the end of the other stick inserted 
or placed perpendicularly in it ; while a small quantity of combus- 
tible matter, such as dry grass, is heaped close round the hole : the 
perpendicular stick is then twirled round between the palms of the 
hands, with as much velocity as possible j and by continuing this 
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