806 MASAI, TURKANA, SUK, NANDI, ETC. 



of hard, smooth wood of irregular size, is generally worn round the neck 

 by the men, who may also have a girdle round the waist composed of a 

 string of beads with, fine iron chains. Bracelets of iron wire or of ivory 

 may r.lso be worn by the men on the wrists. 



As regards clothing the two sexes differ considerably. Women from 

 girlhood to old age are usually clothed most scrupulously, though it is not 



446- 



considered improper to expose tlie bosom. Their garments were formerly 

 dressed hides which hung from the neck down to the knees, with a kind 

 of leather petticoat underneath. Nowadays many of the women dispense 

 with leather and wear voluminous pieces of calico from the coast. Old 

 men generally wear a skin or a cloth cape over the shoulders. Hitherto 

 men,- old and young, of the Masai tribe have been absolutely indifferent 

 as to whether such covering as they wore answered purposes of decency. 



