FMNH 8177.7

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    Scanner: Mr. Christopher J. Philipp : Field Museum of Natural History - Anthropology
    transcriber: Mr. Christopher J. Philipp : Field Museum of Natural History - Anthropology
    (c) Field Museum of Natural History - CC BY-NC 4.0
    Description: scan of catalog card [FRONT] [MAIN BODY] Field Columbian Museum. | 16-21 | Country Br. Guiana | People | Locality | Name Fire sticks used in producing fire | Collection Quelch. Com. W.C.E. (over) | Where Placed 3 in Hall 16 | -Balance Ex. Storage | Notes 12 (1-5, 8-12, 14, 15) Sent Nat. Mus. Wash. ex. Acc, 757, April, 30, 1901 [LEFT MARGIN] A | ENT | No. 8177 1-15 | Ac 14 [BACK] 12 exchanged 1901 | 3 exh 1918 | cat# 8177/ 1-15 | Fire seldom has to be be made anew as it is always kept burning in the houses and smouldering brands are carried on journeys. When required, fire is generally made today by striking jasper and steel or by the friction of two pieces of wood. The latter was doubtless the primitive method. Different kinds of wood are used by different tribes, but the essential factor is that the woods shall be of different degrees of hardness. A stick of soft wood is taken and a small pit dug in it through which a groove is made encircling the stick. This is put on the ground, pit upwards, and held in position by the foot. Another stick of harder wood is taken, the lower end rounded and rested in the pit of the first stick while the upper end is held between the palms of the hands. This stick is twirled by rubbing the palms to and from [sic] with a downward pressure, the friction of which causes heat to be engendered and wood-dust to fall out. After awhile the dust becomes ignited by the heat of the friction and is blown into a blaze.
Catalog Number: 8177.7
Description: fire stick
Materials: wood
Accession Number: [14] World's Columbian Exposition - British Guiana Commission (Purchase)
Accession Year:
Collector/Source: World's Columbian Exposition - British Guiana Commission - British Guiana Commission, J. J. Quelch
EMu IRN: 1441605
GUID: 6a6955ac-6a37-4aee-bd8b-27af71257514

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