1686, Richard Lassels, The Voyage of Italy, Etc. [edited by S. Wilson.]:
[…] they bring home nothing but Firecanes, Par[r]ots, and, Monkeys; so our young Travellers, whiles they might bring home many rich observations, for the […]
a particular fire-starting device: a hollow cane into which a fungus is placededit
1644, Kenelm Digby, Two Treatises: In the One of Which, The Natvre of Bodies; in the Other, The Natvre of Mans Sovle; is Looked Into: in Way of Discovery, of the Immortality of Reasonable Sovles ..., page 147:
And in like manner, the iuywood and diuers others, as also the Indian canes (which from thence are called firecanes) being rubbed with some other sticke of the same nature; if they be first very dry, will of themselues sett on fire: […]
2013, Dan Beard, The American Boy's Handybook Of Camp Lore And Woodcraft, Read Books Ltd (→ISBN) (quoting someone else):
“Here it may be remarked that the instrument thus constructed has a decided advantage over the fire[-]cane, where the fungus is inserted at such a depth as not […]"
2021, Tracy Banghart, A Season of Sinister Dreams, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (→ISBN):
Hands shaking, I retrieve the flask of firecane and flick the cork stopper. I tip the liquid into my mouth and take a gulp. ... My heart beats too fast.
[…]
I swallow a little more of the firecane to clear my throat. “I saw a woman wearing the king's crown, sitting on his throne. The golden wolf attacked her.
2017, George Sala, The Strange Adventures of Captain Dangerous. Volume 2, Litres (→ISBN)
Another was a dose of the Firecane, as it was called, which was just a long paddle, or slender oar, pierced with holes at the broadest part, with the which the patient being belaboured, a blister on the fish rose to each hole of the Paddle.
