Page:St. Nicholas, vol. 40.1 (1912-1913).djvu/266

  

with the coming of the cold weather, we begin to think of the comfort of the fireside, it will be interesting to let our minds go back to the firemaking 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 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.