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[Page 48] 47
- Making Fire -
The blacks had a simple and quick way of
making fire - They used two pieces of the dry
flower stem of the grass tree, about a couple of
feet long - One piece say of an inch in diameter,
the other about half that - a strip was taken off
the thicker piece exposing the softer interior -
the pith in fact - The fire maker then sat on the
ground holding this piece firmly with his feet:
then placing the end of the smaller one on the
side of the larger, where the strip had been removed,
pressing it firmly down, and at the same time
causing it to revolve swiftly between the palms of
his hands, with the result that soon smoke began
to appear, and by the time the larger stick had
been penetrated some of the dust would be on
fire, and the little spark falling on the soft
bark, ready for its reception, was gently blown into
a flame - It was done far more quickly than I can
write of it - taking a very few minutes - I never
quite succeeded in my attempts in this direction -
I can remember when flint and steel and tinder box
were used in our house to get a light - Not so very
much better than the black fellows way - I think