Fire starter (cain fa'i)

Before the introduction of matches fires were started using cain fa’i; sparking a chert stone (nelukala) against metal or another piece of bamboo to create sparks from friction. Nelukala stone is found in the stone of forested areas in Fataluku areas, reports Jose Antonio a cain fa'i maker. To use cain fa'i, nelukaka stone is wrapped with a piece of coconut fiber or the bark of the nipah palm tree to allow it to catch sparks. Fire is then fanned by moving the bark, and quickly transferred to another material to light fire. Dried coconut tree bark, easily combustible, is then used to light a fire. Older generations used to carry nelukaka stones in their bags everywhere, taking it to forests when hunting or fishing to be able to create fire where needed. Jose Antonio, who uses cain fa’i, reported that today people prefer matches or firelighters over traditional methods, for the ease.

Photo: Jose Antonio using cain fa'i to spark a fire in aldeia Paiira, sub-district Lospalos.