St. Nicholas/Volume 40/Number 2/Nature and Science/Fire
FIRE-MAKING IN THE OLDEN DAYS
The Eskimo Fire-stick with mouthpiece and thong. methods that were used by the Indians and the early settlers of our country.
The North American Indian was inured to the cold, and used fire mostly for cooking; but he often had a little in his “tepee,” or tent, to warm it up a bit. The draft was regulated by opening flaps at the top of the tepee. It was so much work to make a fire that it was usually kept going all the time.
Our heading this month shows some Sioux Indians who have just settled in a camp; one is starting a fire to use under the big copper kettle near by. These copper kettles were obtained from the early traders, and nearly every tribe had one.
This Indian produces fire by revolving a vertical stick, called a drill, in one of the holes of his fire-stick, which rests upon the ground. About this hole is a small quantity of “tinder” made of bark fibers and dried pith, or rotten wood, which ignites readily, and is then used to set the camp-fire alight.
The northern Indians, or Eskimos, produced fire in much the same manner, except that they used a mouthpiece to hold the upper part of the stick. A little inset of bone was placed in the mouthpiece where the stick came in contact with it, to prevent wear, and also to keep the drill from making fire at both ends. The drill was revolved by a thong wound about it and attached to a short bow. This was a great improvement.
After the Indians became acquainted with the early settlers, they gave up their old fire-sticks for the “strike-a-light” of the traders, which consisted of a piece of flint, a piece of coarse file or other rough iron, and some tinder. The “strike-a-light” set shown in one of the illustrations was taken from the Cheyenne Indians of Arkansas. It consists of a tinder pouch of buckskin, containing dried bark fibers, a bit of flint, a piece of coarse file, and the small end of a horn which is filled with “punk” made from dried pith. This horn was held in the fist, and the spark was struck into it from the flint. This outfit was very compact, and could be carried about on the person. Another illustration shows one of the early New England “tinder-boxes” and outfit. Sparks were directed into this box by striking the iron “flourish” against the flint,
The old-time method of building a fire in a log-cabin.
In later times, the back of an old kitchen knife was often used against the flint to produce the sparks, and another and more unusual method was to fire a rifle into the stone fireplace, where some tinder was gathered, the bullet striking sparks that set up a fire. An emery-wheel revolving against a steel would produce many more sparks than any of the above contrivances, but the mechanical fixture needed to set it up was more cumbersome and not readily carried about.
In those days, when it was so difficult to produce fire, it was the general custom to keep a fire burning continuously. At night and other times when the fire was not so much needed, it was “banked” with a covering of ashes and cinders. In this smoldering condition it would usually remain for many hours; but sometimes by neg-lect or accident it would go out. In such a case, it was a common custom among the early settlers to send some of the children with a pail to
A “strike-a-light” set, from the Cheyenne Indians of Arkansas.
A, a piece of course file which struck against the flint, B, and produced a spark which was directed into the “punk” in the small hollow horn, C. D, buckskin pouch about eight inches long, for holding the supply of tinder. (The button on this pouch, and the iron file, must have been acquired from the traders.)
Early New England tinder-boxes.
A, iron flourish, or striker; B, flint; C, box containing the tinder; D, cover with candle in position; E, snuffer. “borrow” some live coals from a neighbor. Just imagine taking a pail and going sometimes for a mile or more to a neighbor’s with the request, Please give me some fire.”
In the days of the old flint-lock, tinder was lighted by snapping the lock of the rifle, while a little powder was put in the pan so that the flash might readily ignite the tinder.
The placing of tinder around the hole in the fire drill is not essential. What really ignites is the wood dust ground off by the friction, and from this the tinder is ignited. It is true that tinder is sometimes placed beneath the hearth of the fire drill so that the wood dust, as it is ground off, accumulates on it in a little heap, but it is the wood dust that first takes fire. Any boy or girl can try the experiment with a simple bow- drill, because fire can be made by any one with three pieces of dry pine wood and a simple bow.
Many primitive people used some fungus for tinder. In this locality, the variety known as the puffball, gathered and dried, makes most excellent tinder.
Primitive people had a method of making a long slow “match” by twisting up a rope of cedar bark or other material that would burn slowly. In this way, fire might be carried for hours. The American Indian frequently used a buffalo horn, which was filled with tinder, lighted, and then very tightly closed. Fire would keep in such a horn for many hours.
In the days when the Sioux Indians had copper kettles, they were also supplied with flint and steel, the latter being one of the first things traded to them, and one which they especially prized. The making of fire by wood friction is so much more laborious that no people would ever use it if flint and steel were at hand.—Clark Wissler, Ph.D., American Museum of Natural History, New York City.