It's the same old story... something is so common, so well known and so often done by the general populace, that no-one thinks it necessary to write it down.

How many books on childcare were there in the 18th Century? Not a great many I should think... because everyone did it at some point.. they cared for siblings, cousins, neighbours' children, then their own, whom they taught by example to look after their siblings etc.,

Suddenly, in the middle of the 20th Century, there's a great surge in childcare stuff, because people are no longer living in their small communities and caring for siblings, cousins etc.. People don't pass on the knowledge because they never got it themselves. Soon, we'll have to have childcare lessons for every pregnant family.

No-one bothered to write down exactly how the fire was carried because they never thought there would come a time when it could be carried any other way.

I'm not sure which method I favour.. the slow match or the smouldering coals. Of course, it could just have been a plain old boring flaming torch, renewed throughout the march and used to kindle cooking fires and such when camp was made, or for lighting the signal fires when necessary.

LTS