MASAI, TURKANA, SUK, NANDI, ETC. 805 



ascertain whether this was done with a red-hot wire or by some acrid 

 juice. The scars had a bhiish look, and were intended to enhance the 

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

 the hair from the eyebrows. In both sexes the ears are terribly deformed 

 by piercing the lobe at an early age and inserting through the hole 

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

 increased in size until the lobe becomes a great loop of leathery skin. 



44S. MASAI ELDEK WITH I'UK CAPE 



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

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

 also pierced in the ujjper 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 

 upper part of the left arm, just below the deltoid muscle, is a tight 

 armlet of wood, which grips the flesh, and is furnished with two upright 

 projections. A string of charms, which may be pieces of smooth stone or 



