ORNAMENTS FOR THE EARS AND LIPS 123 



prevent it from slipping out. Sometimes the ends 

 of the reeds are fitted into a piece of leatlier wliich 

 lies in the depression under the rim of the helix. 

 Occasionally the reeds are 

 adorned with coloured 

 beads. A fairly common 

 ornament for the helix is 

 a piece of silver beaten fiat 

 like a leaf. It is made 

 from a Maria Theresa 

 dollar. This coin formerly 

 circulated freely in Africa. 

 The Wa-Kikuyu also 

 distend the lobe of the ear 

 like the Masai and fit into 

 it a cylinder of wood, a 

 can, or a gallipot. Objects 

 of this kind are usually 

 seen in tlie ears of men. 

 The women j^refer to fill 

 the holes in their cars 

 with large rings made of 

 small beads threaded on 

 wire. These Ijead rings 

 are not only used in the 

 large hole made in the 

 lobe, but the women often 

 have a long slit made 

 through the concha, and 



jeads are 



fitted 



rings of 

 into it. 



It would 1)6 reasonably 

 anticipated, in view of the 

 great trouble, inconvcjii- 

 ence, and, no doubt, some 

 physical suft'ering involved 

 in transforming the lobe 

 of the ear into a rubber- 



Tlie JNlasai Ear-ring ('surutya). No 

 Masai elder is allowed to wear 

 this oi'iiament unless he has 

 children who have been circum- 

 cised and become warriors. 



