[Inkscape-user] erase?

Hi All,

Since I am running Scientific Linux 7.2 (RHEL clone), I am probably not running the latest Inkscape:

$ rpm -qa inkscape inkscape-0.48.4-15.el7.x86_64

I tried Inkcape out to create a graphics for a tech manual. I managed to find everything I need in DuckDuckGo (Google without the spying). I was impressed.

One thing I never figured out (and had to use GIMP) was how to erase a section. All the stuff I found on the web made no sense to me and I couldn't find things.

Exactly how to I erase something? (I don't mind over writing with a while brush, as I did in GIMP.)

Many thanks, -T