30 SEX-LORE 



girl have become ripe for their duties as members of 

 the tribe, and are themselves henceforth responsible 

 for their own behaviour. It is now also that they 

 are considered to have reached the age when they 

 are fit to marry, to bear and rear children, and to serve 

 the community. Our custom of confirmation is a 

 modification of this idea. Among modern civilized 

 nations the young people who have attained puberty 

 and are confirmed become responsible members of 

 their religious community only. 



The initiation rites are attended by great festivi- 

 ties, which sometimes last many weeks, according to 

 the wealth of the parents and relatives of the young 

 people. But before these can be entered upon, 

 various ordeals have to be undergone by the youth 

 or maiden who has reached this eventful period. A 

 youth must be skilful in manly crafts, and must show 

 himself brave and capable of enduring pain without 

 wincing. He is tested in various ways, which would 

 seem to us torture or something akin to it. He must 

 not move a muscle under the trial, nor show in any 

 manner that he is not experiencing pleasurable sensa- 

 tions ; otherwise he has not proved satisfactorily that 

 he is fit to become a member of the community to 

 which he belongs, and must go back again to live 

 with the women. This is considered a great disgrace, 

 and therefore much dreaded. In many tribes it is 

 customary to knock one or two front teeth out of the 

 boy's mouth, or sometimes some of the teeth are 

 filed. Tattooing is also frequently performed on the 

 boy's body at this time. That this must be endured 

 without a murmur goes without .saying. There is 

 great rejoicing if the lad has come successfully through 



