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Show I- oo WHERE WOMEN AND GIRLS ARE MUTILATED. The National Geographic societ: . Washington, Is authority for the following fol-lowing which would he received with j skepticism were it from a less re j put able body: In the remote part of northern VI j geria, not yet under the complete I control or tne Hrmsn. mere aweii a people whose women wear tails and are proud of them They are the outward out-ward and visible sign f the matronly dignity. When a woman becomes a bride, she puts off forever the simple girdle of twLted grass that up to j that moment, has been her sole j adornment, and assumes the apron of leavcB and the tremendously slgnlfl-j cant tall or kunnok as it Is called. To add further to their beauty, both the upper and lower lips of these women are pierced in order to admit a flat, round di6k of wood called the tichlak, which Is usually about the i size of a half dollar. The lips of the little girls are pierced when they are seven or eight years of ace, and a piece of wood inserted and worn for a time until a larger one takes Its place. I the opening thus being gradually enlarged en-larged until a full-sized tichlak can he carried without discomfort The object of this singularly discomforting discomfort-ing adornment is to prevent the women wo-men from eating dogs, which are considered con-sidered the greatest delicacy by the men of the tribes. Both sexes decorate their bodies with regular designs. The chests and backs of the little girls are scarified at a very early age When they ar rive at marriageable age. the girls undergo a further ordeal, for two sot? of parallel lines are cut both on the chest and the hack, and as soon as possible after marriage the head lines are made. These consist of a number num-ber of short cuts across the forehea I. j extending from ear to ear. and tbir-teen tbir-teen lone, slanting lines are cut on I each cheek from ear to chin I |