The Indianapolis Sentinel

The Pelele.

The pelele is the most extraordinary addition to the charms of the Makoude women.

This is a circular piece of wood variously carved and adorned and generally about two inches in diameter.

It is worn in the upper lip, which, of course, becomes enormously extended to receive it, and which appears simply like an india-rubber band round the ornament.

Of course, the insertion of so large a piece of unyielding material is a prolonged operation. The process commences in childhood by the insertion of a wooden pin. As the girl grows this is removed and a larger one put in, until at the age of 18, the pelele has attained its full size.

In early womanhood the upper lip, with its strange embellishment, sticks straight out from the face, and when seen a little way off appears not unlike a duck's bill.

In more advanced years, however, the lip hangs down, quite covering the mouth—indeed, actually covering the chin. At this state it irresistibly reminds one of the snout of a tapir, and the resemblance is made still more striking by the flatness of the nose and the thickness of the lips.

These extraordinary ornaments are highly prized by the Makoude, and I found it quite impossible to obtain more than a single specimen, and that had not even been worn. It was believed that if a pelele fell into my possession I would certainly work some black magic on the seller, and produce dire mischief generally. Doubtless they are the more prized by the wives, because they are invariably the handiwork of their husbands. A Makoude lady would no more think of disposing of her pelele than an European lady of her marriage ring.

When a woman dies this much-prized adornment is always most religiously preserved by her husband or near relatives.