MASAI, TURKAXA, SUK, XANDI, ETC. 



805 



ascertain whether this was done with a red-hot win- or l^v some acrid 

 juice. The scars liad a bhiish h)ok, and were intended to enhance the 

 brilliancy of the eye. Tlie women ordinarily remove the eyelashes and 

 the hair fi-oni the eyebrows. In both sexes the ears are terribly d(-rormed 

 by piercini^ the lobe at an early ajre and inserting through the hole 

 larger and larger discs or rounded pieces of wood. These are gradually 

 increased in size until the lolie becomes a great loop of leatlierv skin. 



445. -MASAI ELDER WITH EUR CAPE 



To this loop they attach ear-rings of tine iron chain or European nails and 

 screws, or depending coils of iron wire like catherine-wheels. Tht- ear is 

 also pierced in the upper part of the conch, near what is called '-Darwin's 

 point." From this hole also may depend loops of fine iron chain or .strings 

 of beads. The men may wear bead necklaces and bead armlets. On the 

 up})er part of the left arm, just below the deltoid muscle, is a tight 

 armlet of wood, which gi'ips the flesh, and is furnished with two u[)right 

 projections. A string of cliarms, which may be pieces of smooth stone_ or 



