Fire making

The oldest instrument for fire making used by the Bontoc Igorot is now seldom found.  However, practically all boys of a dozen years know how to make and use it.

It is called “co-li’-li,” and is a friction machine made of two pieces of dry bamboo.  A 2-foot section of dead and dry bamboo is split lengthwise and in one piece a small area of the stringy tissue lining the tube is splintered and picked quite loose.  Immediately over this, on the outside of the tube, a narrow groove is cut at right angles to it.  This piece of bamboo becomes the stationary lower part of the fire machine.  One edge of the other half of the original tube is sharpened like a chisel blade.  This section is grasped in both hands, one at each end, and is at first slowly and heavily, afterwards more rapidly, drawn back and forth through the groove of the stationary bamboo, making a small conical pile of dry dust beneath the opening.

After a dozen strokes the sides of the groove and the edge of the friction piece burn brown, presently a smell of smoke is plain, and before three dozen strokes have been made smoke may be seen.  Usually before one hundred strokes a larger volume of smoke tells that the dry dust constantly falling on the pile has grown more and more charred until finally a tiny friction-fired particle falls, carrying combustion to the already heated dust cone.

The machine is carefully raised, and, if the fire is permanently kindled, the pinch of smoldering dust is inserted in a wisp of dry grass or other easily inflammable material; in a minute or two flames burst forth, and the fire may be transferred where desired.

The pal-ting’, the world-wide flint and steel-percussion fire machine, is found with all Bontoc men.

At Sagada there is a ledge of exposed and crumbling rock from which most of the men of the western part of the Bontoc culture area obtain their “flint.”  The “steel” is any piece of iron which may be had —­ probably a part of the ferrule from the butt of a spear shaft is used more than is any other one kind of iron.

The pal-ting’ is secured either in a very small basket or a leather roll which is fastened closed by a string.  In this receptacle a small amount of dry tree cotton is also carried.  The pal-ting’ receptacle is carried about in the large bag hanging at the girdle.

Fire is made by a tiny percussion-heated particle of the stone as it flies away under the sharp, glancing blow of the “steel” and catches in the dry cotton held by the thumb nail on the upper surface of the stone.

If the fire maker wishes to light his pipe, he tucks the smoldering cotton lightly into his roll of tobacco; a few draws are sufficient to ignite the pipeful.  If an out-of-door fire is desired the cotton is first used to ignite a dry bunch of grass.  Should the fire be needed in the dwelling, the cotton is placed on charcoal.  Blowing and care will produce a good, blazing wood fire in a few minutes.