Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 27, 1916.djvu/382

 354 1^^^ Magical and Ceremonial Uses of Fire.

constantly burning, necessitating the setting apart of certain individuals who must devote themselves to tliis task.

Seemingly, then, we can never know when and how man learnt to make fire. It is a question which has exercised the mind of primitive man himself, and accounts for the hundreds of myths found all over the world that try to explain how fire came to men. In some cases tiiese myths do suggest a quite possible origin. In hot, dry countries two branches of dry wood rubbed together in a wind might easily start a fire, the dried leaves forming the tinder ; and, indeed, this has been actually known to happen. Corre- spondingly in Borneo we find a myth purporting to give the origin of fire. There had been a great flood, and every one, except a woman, had been drowned. For company she had a dog, a rat and a io.^^ other small animals, these being the only survivors from the deluge. The dog was discovered to have found a warm corner for himself near a creeper, which, being swayed by the wind, was rubbed against a tree, producing warmth by the friction. This gave the woman a hint, and, by rubbing a creeper on a piece of wood, she produced fire for the first time.^

Or again, we are reminded of the Song of Hiawatha, where the Master of Life came down and

" Breathed upon the neighbouring forest. Made its great boughs chafe together. Till in flames they burst and kindled."

So much must suffice as regards the obscure subject of the origin of fire.

And now, before beginning to discuss the magical and ceremonial value attaching to fire, it will be well to pass in review some of the various methods employed for the pro- duction of fire by primitive peoples of the present day, and also, as far as is known, by those of the past. I may take

^C. Hose and W. M'Dougall, Pagan Tt-ibes of Borneo, ii. 144-147.