The middle of the upper lip of the girls is pierced close to the septum of the nose, and a small pin inserted to prevent the puncture closing up.

After it has healed, the pin is taken out and a larger one is pressed into its place, and so on successively for weeks, and months, and years.

The process of increasing the size of the lip goes on till its capacity becomes so great that a ring of two inches diameter can be introduced with ease.

All the highland women wear the pelele, and it is common on the Upper and Lower Shire.

The poorer classes make them of hollow or of solid bamboo, but the wealthier of ivory or tin.