THE MAN OF THE FOREST. 63 



several gashes over the breast and arms, rubs in 

 the acrid juice without hesitation. Although the 

 operation is very painful he does not even wince, 

 but seems to glory in his stoicism. Next day he 

 has regained his confidence, goes forth into the 

 forest, is successful, and of course puts everything 

 to the credit of the beena. 



In addition to these plants there is another 

 beena which has to be used before our boy can 

 arrive at manhood. This seems to be a general 

 charm to make him successful in hunting and 

 fishing, as well as in all undertakings worthy of 

 the future head of a family. Here, again, we are 

 met by the difficulty of accounting for the use of 

 such an instrument. Of the size and length of a 

 coach whip without its handle, the nose beena looks 

 as if intended as an instrument of punishment. 

 And so it is, in a way, but not as might be at first 

 sight supposed. It is well greased with the fat of 

 palm caterpillars, the thin end pushed up one of 

 the nostrils into the air passage, and drawn out 

 through the mouth. The boy endures the pain 

 and irritation without flinching, and after giving 

 this and other proofs of his endurance is no longer 

 a child. 



There is one other manly accomplishment which 

 the young Indian has to learn, and that is to drink 



