Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 6, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 February 1891 — A TRIBE OF "BIG EARS." [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

A TRIBE OF "BIG EARS."

What Some American Indians Consider Ornamental. Along the various streams which are tributary to the mighty Amazon in South America lives a peculiar tribe of Indians, the Oregones, or ‘Big Ears.” They live near the Napo River, one of the tributaries of the Amazon, and are entirely naked, if we except the won-

derful “earrings” worn by them. They have a custom of introducing a bit of wood into a slit in the ear and gradually in-

creasing the size of it until the lobe hangs upon the shoulder. The accompanying cut shows the style of “earring” worn by the Oregones. It is made of a very light species of wood, hollowed out and filled in with a substance similar to and as light as chalk. The rings in the center probably denote the title or dignity of the wearer. It is fully two inches in diameter, and is worn with the flat side towards the head. The one illustrated

was taken by permission from the “gentleman” ■whose stoic features appear herewith.

EARRING.

HE USED TO WEAR IT.