See the attached article by Jared Diamond.  It is absolutely fascinating and
also explains why the Tasmanian Aborigines lost the ability to make fire.
 http://www.edge.org/3rd_culture/diamond_rich/rich_p1.html  Ken
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>
> I agree.  It is commonly stated that the Tasmanian Aborigines didn't have
> fire.  I find this dubious.  Since they came from the mainland and must
have
> known how to make fire (since mainlanders did) why would they suddenly
> abandon it.  No sense in it.