136 
EASTERN ETHIOPIA 
XI 
by the hands : this motion causes the soft wood to come 
away as fine dust, and the heat generated by the friction 
of the drill against the fire-stick ignites the wood-dust. 
Whilst 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 tills sounds delightfully simple ; an expert native 
inexperienced man may twirl the drill for an hour and 
then give up the work in despair. The drill must be f. 
twirled with a uniform motion ; the blowing, to produce | 
a flame 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 j 
of Tubal-cain exists among the natives of East Africa \ 
