168 TIMEHRI. 
these are charms, supposed to havea special influence on — 
the man who uses them, to make him skilful in hunting, q 2 
invisible to the game, or to bring a particular animal a 
where it can be captured or killed. The whip-like nose 
beena seems to bea universal charm which makes its user 
skilful in hunting generally, but besides this thereisa _ 
large number of beenas, every kind of animal having its 
particular variety which is used when the hunter fails in 
shooting that animal. When this takes place he thinks 
his virtue has gone out of him, slashes himself with a 
knife and rubs in the acrid juice of the root of the plant 
which is the specific charm. Most of the beenas are 
varieties or species of Caladium, the well-known form of 
Caladium bicolor with suffused crimson on the upper sur- 
face being the tiger (jaguar) beena. Mr, LLOYD has 
brought down a specimen of the maipuri (tapir) beena 
which appears to be a variety of one of the cultivated 
tannias. It is not coloured or spotted in any way, but its 
peculiarity consists in the growth of a dwarf and mal- 
formed leaf on the back of the mid-rib. This is com- 
pared by the Indians to the mane of the tapir, and this 
idea no doubt suggested its use. Other specimens 
brought down by Mr. LLOYD were the wikan (deer) 
beena, Cipura paludosa, and the macaw beena a 
species of Pirigueta. Hippeastrum equestre, the well- 
. known Belladonna lily, is also a beena; and other lilies 
found growing near their settlements will probably be 
utilised as charms inasimilar manner. This beena idea is 
a very interesting one as it accounts for the few culti- 
vated plants among the Indians which are not otherwise 
useful, and might be considered as showing a taste 
for beauty which really is non-existent. It also has 
