Quote:
Originally posted by Psywar1-0
LRD,
Jamestown? Used to work at Fennimore House in Cooperstown NY doing 18 Century Native Interpretation.
There is a fungus that grows in the North East on Birch Trees that is a great tinder. Its black, looks burnt, but isnt and is called amazingly enough, a Tinder Fungus. You can use it in large(Pencil eraser) sized chunks to transfer fire from place to place, or if powdered for catching sparks from Flint and Steel or Fire Bow.
I like to use powdered fungus inside a "Birds Nest" of shreadded ceader bark. After catching a spark and getting the inital flame, add some birch bark, then small wood. In my 18th Century kit I carry enough small twigs, bark and fungus (wrapped in an oilskin) to start a fire. I prefer Sassafras for the twigs, and they can be used as something to chew on if need be.
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Historic St. Mary's City, Maryland. Home of the largest 17th c. militia muster on the east coast.
If you're ever in Southern Maryland in October you should try to come by. We even had a piper year before last. His own guys shot him right off the bat. I liked him.
Most of the tours we have during the year are 4th-6th graders. We try to teach them a little bit of what the Chesapeake Tidewater indians taught the first settlers. Making cordage is easy, once you know how, and you can make it out of all kinds of materials. You can never have too much string.