THE MAN OF THE FOREST. 51 



wounded it in chopping down a tree. Something 

 must be done, and the father must do it ; he has 

 unwittingly done the wrong, and will have to 

 make reparation in some way. By direction of 

 this half wizard, half physician, he therefore cuts 

 several gashes on his breast, allows the blood to 

 flow into a gourd, and, after jnixing it with water, 

 gives it to the babe as a medicine. 



Here we probably get the first beginnings of 

 what has formed such an important part of almost 

 every religion sacrifice. We injure others, and 

 must suffer in return. Even races very high in 

 the scale of civilisation cannot understand that 

 when something is done it can never be recalled 

 or obliterated. It is again the germ of that 

 passion which leads to quarrels and fights, battles 

 and wars. There is a feeling of satisfaction to 

 the animal part of our nature when we resent or 

 revenge an insult. "You hurt me and I'll hurt 

 you," is the motto of the true savage, but the 

 American Indian has gone a step farther. If he 

 has unwittingly wronged his child he is ready to 

 make every possible reparation, no matter what 

 the cost is to himself. 



The Indian baby soon begins to use his limbs. 

 His mother lets him sprawl on the sand until he 

 learns to creep, regardless of the fact that jiggers 



