A FIERY ORDEAL. 2*3 



deiros, or fire-ants, before they can be known 

 as warriors, or recognized as braves. A pail 

 of mittens are made of the bark of the palm 

 tree, long enough to cover the arms above the 

 elbows, and are filled with the Tocan deiros. 

 The candidate for warlike honor must put hia 

 hands into these bags of living fire, and wear 

 them while he makes the round of the village, 

 and dances a jig at every pause. During this 

 march he must wear a smiling face, and chant 

 a kind of song so loud as to be heard above all 

 the noise his companions may make upon rude 

 horns and drums. He must not, by word, 

 action, or look, show any sign of the torture 

 which he endures; if he should, he will be the 

 ridicule of his tribe, and even the maidens will 

 refuse to know him. When the round of the 

 village is complete, he must pause before the 

 chief with swifter dance, and louder chant, 

 until he falls from exhaustion, and the burning 

 gauntlets are removed. Then he has won bis 

 right to carry a spear with his tribe. 



A species, E. legioniSj attacks the nests of 



