practiced by some of the Western Indians, is by friction between two
pieces of wood. I had often heard of this process, but never gave
credit to its practicability until I saw the experiment successfully
tried. It was done in the following manner: Two dried stalks of the
Mexican soap-plant, about three fourths of an inch in diameter, were
selected, and one of them made flat on one side; near the edge of this
flat surface a very small indentation was made to receive the end of
the other stick, and a groove cut from this down the side. The other
stick is cut with a rounded end, and placed upright upon the first. One
man then holds the horizontal piece upon the ground, while another
takes the vertical stick between the palms of his hands, and turns it
back and forth as rapidly as possible, at the same time pressing
forcibly down upon it. The point of the upright stick wears away the
indentation into a fine powder, which runs off to the ground in the
groove that has been cut; after a time it begins to smoke, and by
continued friction it will at length take fire.

This is an operation that is difficult, and requires practice; but if a
drill-stick is used with a cord placed around the centre of the upright
stick, it can be turned much more rapidly than with the hands, and the
fire produced more readily. The upright stick may be of any hard, dry
wood, but the lower horizontal stick must be of a soft, inflammable
nature, such as pine, cottonwood, or black walnut, and it must be
perfectly dry. The Indians work the sticks with the palms of the hands,
holding the lower piece between the feet; but it is better to have a
man to hold the lower piece while another man works the drill-bow.

Inexperienced travelers are very liable, in kindling fires at their
camp, to ignite the grass around them. Great caution should be taken to
guard against the occurrence of such accidents, as they might prove
exceedingly disastrous. We were very near having our entire train of
wagons and supplies destroyed, upon one occasion, by the carelessness
of one of our party in setting fire to the grass, and it was only by
the most strenuous and well-timed efforts of two hundred men in setting
counter fires, and burning around the train, that it was saved. When
the grass is dry it will take fire like powder, and if thick and tall,
with a brisk wind, the flames run like a race-horse, sweeping every
thing before them. A lighted match, or the ashes from a segar o