Post by spence on Jun 29, 2019 8:05:40 GMT -7
In 1835, during the voyage of HMS Beagle, Charles Darwin visited Tahiti and described their method of fire starting.
"They then proceeded to make a fire and to cook our evening meal. A light was procured by rubbing a blunt-pointed stick in a groove made in another, as with intention of deepening it, until by the friction the dust was ignited. A peculiarly white and very light wood (the Hibiscus tiliaceus) is alone used for this purpose: it is the same which serves for poles to carry any burden, and for the floating outriggers to their canoes. The fire was produced in a few seconds: but to a person who does not understand the art, it requires, as I found, the greatest exertion; but at last, to my great pride, I succeeded in igniting the dust."
Like this...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=qihY8mp7aa0
Spence
"They then proceeded to make a fire and to cook our evening meal. A light was procured by rubbing a blunt-pointed stick in a groove made in another, as with intention of deepening it, until by the friction the dust was ignited. A peculiarly white and very light wood (the Hibiscus tiliaceus) is alone used for this purpose: it is the same which serves for poles to carry any burden, and for the floating outriggers to their canoes. The fire was produced in a few seconds: but to a person who does not understand the art, it requires, as I found, the greatest exertion; but at last, to my great pride, I succeeded in igniting the dust."
Like this...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=qihY8mp7aa0
Spence
