It's mentioned in Outdoor Survival Skills by Larry Dean Olson. Evidently the Paiute used shredded bark, sagebrush for example, in a two foot long, 4 inch diameter bundle that held the burning coal at one end. Presumably, the bundle would smoulder down like a cigar, taking 6 to 12 hours at which time a fire could be started to transfer the spark to another bundle.

Guess i will have to try this sometime after i master making fire...