146 TiMEHRI. 



wanted to be like them. He was told to wait — he was 

 not yet a man nor could he become one until he had 

 gone through the proper ordeal. Of course he wanted 

 to do this as soon as possible, and was proud to show 

 his father how he endured the stinging of ants without 

 shrinking. Once, he took a knife and made several 

 gashes on his breast, on which the men looked approv- 

 ingly as a proof of courage. The father had missed 

 shooting a deer, and according to custom, thinking that 

 his skill wanted renewing, cut himself over the breast and 

 arms, and rubbed the root of a particular beena or 

 charm into the wounds. 



These beenas are the roots of Caladiums and other 

 tuberous plants, a particular species or variety serving as 

 a charm against each animal. They are generally culti- 

 vated at every Indian settlement, and are the only 

 ornamental plants cared for by these people. In showing 

 a traveller his colle6lion, an old Indian who knew a little 

 English, said, pointing to one after another ; " this 

 abouyah (bush hog) beena, suppose want 'em, a shilling, 

 this deer beena, a shilling, this labba beena, a shilling, and, 

 speaking more emphatically, " This tiger beena — me no 

 sell 'em ! " The varieties of Caladium hicolor are the 

 principal plants used, that with the suffused crimson 

 leaf being the tiger beena. The bulb of the Belladonna 

 lily (Hippeastrum equestre) is specially used for the 

 Maipuri (tapir) and is often found at deserted set- 

 tlements, looking as if grown for its handsome flowers. 



When about twelve years old Peter was considered 

 far enough advanced to undergo the necessary ordeal 

 and become a man. His father prepared a nose beena — a 

 twisted thong of eta fibre the size and length of a coach 



