199 



CHAPTER XV. 



BEE-HUNTING, — ONSLAUGHT OF WASPS. — AGARRA-PATA.- 

 THE JIGGER. 



B 



EE-HUNTING is a favourite amusement 

 and profitable occupation of the Indians 

 at most times of the year, but it is mostly 

 for a few weeks before Easter that they 

 employ themselves in that way, on account of 

 the comparatively high price they can obtain 

 for wax at that time in the towns and vil- 

 lages ; it being then in great request for 

 tapers and candles to be devoted to the graven 

 images of their religion. I say their rehgion, 

 for though in the towns they profess to be of 

 the purest kind of Roman Catholics, yet they 

 grovel to saints, carved and painted as gro- 

 tesque as a good Guy Fawkes in London on 

 the 5th of November ; and the only religion 

 they have been taught is to pray to these 

 caricatures, and to the Virgin ; but above all, 

 to make them presents and burn candles 

 before them. 



In Central America there are several sorts 

 of bees, of different sizes, and with a slight 



