108 



METHOD OP TAKING 



Chap. VI. 



top off, and the honeycomb, with which the hive was 

 quite full, was exposed to our view. In the mean- 

 time an old priest having brought a large basin, 

 and everything being ready, our friend commenced 

 to cut out the honeycomb with a knife made appa- 

 rently for the purpose, and having the handle 

 almost at right angles with the blade. Having 

 taken out about one-third of the contents of the 

 hive, the top was put on again, and the hive ele- 

 vated to its former position. The same operation 

 was repeated with the second hive, and in a man- 

 ner quite as satisfactory. 



But it may be asked, " Where were the bees all 

 this time ? " — and this is the most curious part of 

 my story. They had not been killed by the fumes 

 of brimstone, for it is contrary to the doctrines of 

 the Buddhist creed to take away animal life — nor 

 had they been stupified with a fungus, which is 

 sometimes done at home ; but they were flying 

 about above our heads in great numbers, and yet, 

 although we were not protected in the slightest 

 degree, not one of us was stung ; and this was 

 the more remarkable as the bodies of the operator 

 and servants were completely naked from the 

 middle upwards. 



The charm was a simple one ; it lay in a few 

 dry stems and leaves of a species of Artemisia 

 which grows wild on these hills, and which is 

 largely used to drive that pest the mosquito out 

 of the dwellings of the people. This plant is cut 

 eai^ly in summer, sun-dried, then twisted into 



