ould know the different methods
that may be resorted to for kindling fires upon a march.

The most simple and most expeditious of these is by using the lucifer
matches; but, unless they are kept in well-corked bottles, they are
liable to become wet, and will then fail to ignite.

The most of those found in the shops easily imbibe dampness, and are of
but little use in the prairies. Those marked "Van Duser, New York," and
put up in flat rectangular boxes, are the best I have met with, and
were the only ones I saw which were not affected by the humid climate
of Mexico. Wax lucifers are better than wooden, as they are impervious
to moisture.

I have seen an Indian start a fire with flint and steel after others
had failed to do it with matches. This was during a heavy rain, when
almost all available fuel had become wet. On such occasions dry fuel
may generally be obtained under logs, rocks, or leaning trees.

The inner bark of some dry trees, cedar for instance, is excellent to
kindle a fire. The bark is rubbed in the hand until the fibres are made
fine and loose, when it takes fire easily; dry grass or leaves are also
good. After a sufficient quantity of small kindling fuel has been
collected, a moistened rag is rubbed with powder, and a spark struck
into it with a flint and steel, which will ignite it; this is then
placed in the centre of the loose nest of inflammable material, and
whirled around in the air until it bursts out into a flame. When it is
raining, the blaze should be laid upon the dryest spot that can be
found, a blanket held over it to keep off the water, and it is fed with
very small bits of dry wood and shavings until it has gained sufficient
strength to burn the larger damp wood. When no dry place can be found,
the fire may be started in a kettle or frying-pan, and afterward
transferred to the ground.

Should there be no other means of starting a fire, it can always be
made with a gun or pistol, by placing upon the ground a rag saturated
with damp powder, and a little dry powder sprinkled over it. The gun or
pistol is then (uncharged) placed with the cone directly over and near
the rag, and a cap exploded, which will invariably ignite it. Another
method is by placing about one fourth of a charge of powder into a gun,
pushing a rag down loosely upon it, and firing it out with the muzzle
down near the ground, which ignites the rag.

The most difficult of all methods of making a fire, but one that is