Longhead: The Story of the First Fire — John Shaqi
Longhead: The Story of the First FireRobinson, C. H. (Charles Henry)
Science
Longhead: The Story of the First Fire
Robinson, C. H. (Charles Henry)
Industries, Primitive; Prehistoric peoples
By the time the procession of emigrants had arrived at the fire-cave,
Longhead and Broken Tooth had determined upon their own course of
action, and when the new-comers had selected their respective caves and
came to be instructed in the use of fire, Longhead told each that as
this mysterious agent was his property and he alone could produce or
destroy it, he would require of each that he should bring an armful of
fuel or a present of food when he came for fire; and further, that if
the fire on any hearth should go out, it should not be rekindled with
that of a neighbor, but by a torch lighted at his own central fire; and
he threatened that if these rules should be violated, he would at once
extinguish all the fires and retire to a distant part of the forest,
leaving them in their former condition.
So beneficial did the people by this time believe the fire to be, that
they all readily agreed to his terms, and scattered through the forest
to secure armfuls of fuel with which to purchase the blessing, except a
few who happened to have food to exchange. As each threw down his
contribution he received a lighted torch and was given instruction how
to kindle his fire, and, by the time it became dark, the whole ravine
was brilliantly illuminated and merry with the shouts of old and young
as they gathered for the first time around hearthstones and enjoyed
light and heat.
Those who had visited the fire-cave before the immigration, proceeded at
once to roast their meat and tubers, and the others imitated them,
though a few concluded to eat theirs raw until they might see if the new
method was injurious to those who tried it. The first touch of the hot
meat with lips or fingers brought exclamations of surprise or fear from
some, but, on the whole, cooking was voted a success and was thereafter
universally practiced.
CHAPTER IV
CO-OPERATION
A few days after the arrival of the colony of settlers at the fire-cave,
the conservatives of the group who had remained at the old home could no
longer control their curiosity, and so, one afternoon they approached
the vicinity of the new settlement, after cautiously reconnoitering from
the tree-tops. When discovered, they were cordially invited to approach,
for the old selfishness and exclusiveness seemed to melt away under the
influence of fire and the companionship it inculcated, and they were
soon enjoying for the first time roasted carrots and broiled meat. They
soon lost their shyness and fear under the new conditions, and remained
permanent denizens of the settlement.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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