Chinook Indian Talk

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How the Chinook built a campfire-----

From: Steady Eddie
Date: 4/28/2002
Time: 2:13:46 AM
Remote Name: 204.245.250.35

Comments

Everywhere the Chinook went, they were famous for their ability to build a campfire on the spot. They didn't have a handy Bic lighter or a book of matches.

The Hudson's Bay Company had steel (or wrought iron) "hand strikers" for creating a spark. They looked just like a link of chain, oval shaped, with the opening large enough to fit your four fingers through. Like a pair of brass knuckles. With this, a large spark was created into tinder, by striking a piece of flint. No doubt that the Chinooks picked up on this.

But, seeing how it DOES rain here, and the Chinook didn't always have a HBC striker handy, they still some how built fires nearly instantly.

I cannot find anything on the 'Net about this---I have seen "bow-and-stick" fire drills, I have seen "rubbing two sticks together" and all the other stories of fire-building by the Indians. I have even seen mentioned the fact that the Indians carried glowing hot wood/ash coals with them (in a small leather pouch) to help build a fire.

If anyone knows the Chinook "trick" of how to build a fire in the pouring down rain, please post the answer here on this BBS.

Steady Eddie

Last changed: April 28, 2002