Wanika. 
127 
upon each cord is strung six or eight large, white 
beads, kept in place by a knot at the end, all stand- 
ing erect from the head like 
" Quills upon the fretful porcupine.'' 
When complete this headdress looks like a crown of 
snow upon a sweep ! 
Now, imagine her running down from head to foot 
with oil — not unseldom castor oil — and her tout 
ensemble is complete. Lo, the Kinika belle ! It 
should be mentioned that tattooing is resorted to for 
the adornment of females, and now and then of the 
males. Every Mnika woman has a zone of small 
scars, from four to six inches in breadth, just below her 
waist, consisting of several very close, regular rows. 
This is the commonest and most simple style, but 
there are many different patterns. Some, too, have 
their arms and shoulders tattooed. It is done by 
picking up the skin with the fingers, and by snicking 
little pieces of flesh almost off with a knife. It must 
be a very painful operation to undergo ; but what 
will not people endure for fashion's sake } Only one 
side of the body can be done at once, as the people 
require the other to lie upon. When the first is 
healed then the other side is beautified. In some 
cases inflammation sets in, and the tattooing runs into 
one large wound, when, of course, the whole thing 
becomes a blotch and a failure. 
Children under twelve years of age often wear 
nothing but their beads ! 
The weapons of the Wanika are not numerous. 
A well-armed man among them carries a strong bow 
in his hand, a quiver of poisoned arrows, cruelly barbed 
