X ORNAMENTS FOR THE EARS AND LIPS 123 
prevent it from slipping out. Sometimes tlie ends 
of the reeds are fitted into a piece of leather which 
lies in the depression under the rim of the helix. 
Occasionally the reeds are 
adorned with coloured 
heads. A fairly common 
ornament for the helix is 
a piece of silver beaten flat 
like a leaf. It is made 
from a Maria Theresa 
dollar. This coin formerly 
circulated freely in Africa. 
The Wa-Kiknyu 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 the ears of men. 
The women prefer to fill 
the holes in their ears 
Avith large rings made of 
small beads threaded on 
wire. These bead 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 
rings of beads are fitted 
into it. 
It would be reasonably 
anticipated, in view of the 
. great trouble, inconveni¬ 
ence, and, no doubt, some 
physical suffering involved 
in transforming the lobe 
of the ear into a rubber- 
Tlie Masai Ear-ring (’sarutya). No 
Masai elder is allowed to wear 
this ornament unless he has 
children who have been circum¬ 
cised and become warriors. 
