BAEI CUSTOMS. 97 front five or six small iron bars, sis inches long, and the whole three inches and a half broad. Iron, copper, and brass rings are worn on the arms and legs, and native-made iron chains are sometimes worn round the waist ; and usually a string of charms is suspended round the neck, while dogs'-teeth necklaces are common. An ivory ring is sometimes seen on a man's arm ; this is only allowed to be worn after killing a man or an elephant singlehanded. The men wear a tuft of hair on their heads ; the women are always entirely shaven.

The Baris do not wear so many beads as the Shulis or Madis, but tattoo themselves extensively ; some of the patterns are very good. The operation, which is very painful, is performed at puberty ; and the wounds are dressed with earth and cowdung ; the patients frequently have severe fevers, and in some cases die. The men are armed with light lances of native make ; they are not nearly so good as those farther south, but the bows and arrows are of superior manufacture; and the men are very expert in their use.

Small-pox is often very prevalent in these parts, and venereal diseases also ; at one time they were so bad that inoculation was practised, and has since become the general law ; it is performed over the left breast, and the natives say that they believe that the disease will be stamped out in time, so much good has resulted from the practice. It is a VOL. If. H