The Russellville Democrat., 1889-07-25
GIRLS IN BuRMAH.
Cerem onfes Incid ent to the Boring Of
 Ti,nfs tr..Pa


 The Ceremonies Incid ent to the Boring of
 Their Ears.
 A traveller in far-away Burmah, of which we know very little except from missionary reports, says that Burmese girls compare very favorably with our girls in looks and manners. Of couse the smoke cigars, which is contrary to our standard of good manners, but itis good form in Burmah. Perhaps the most interesting trait about Burmese girls is their passion for personal adornment, especially in the way of earrings.
 All Burmese women wear ear-plugs. These are as costly as the purse of the women can purchase, and they are like no earrings you will find in America
 The lobes of their ears have holes in them, each of which is from half-inch to an inch and half in diameter, and have seen such holes through which mans thumb could be thrust and not bruise the skin.
 In some cases women carry these big Burmese cigars in their ears, and l once saw woman's ear in which there wore gold rings which would have made good-sized napl1in-rings.
 It seems incredible that the flesh can stretch as it does, but some of the poorer women's ears are so enlarged by this process that the string of flesh which hangs down in the place of the lobe is almost as large around as the ear itself.
 The high-caste lady has hole in her ear about as big around as her index finger, and the ear-plugs, which are about half an inch long, are often tipped with clusters of diamonds. They are sometimes of gold, and in the cases of less well-to-do people are plugs of solid amber
 The ceremony of boring the ears of a Burmese girl is quite as important to her as that of the first long dress to the American girl. It takes place when she reaches the age of twelve or thirteen.
 The family consults fortune-teller for a good day and hour, and a big feast is prepared. All the sisters. cousins and aunts are invited. and these squat down on the floor about the room while the girl, with her nearest relatives about her, lies down on a mat at the back
 A professional ear-borer does the business. He has needles of pure gold for the use of the rich and of silver for the poor. The fortune-teller keeps his eye on the sun and tells the party when the propitious moment has ar. rived.
 The girl is frightened half to death. She screeches, but her relatives hold her down while the ear-borer thrusts the gold needle through her ear, and catching it at the back, twists it around so that it forms gold ring, and this he leaves in the ear.
 The other ear is likewise treated, and all the time band of music plays outside the house.
 1t takes the ear some time to heal, and after this the process of enlarging the hole begins. The needle is turned around and passed backward and for ward during the healing, and then fine- ly-rolled gold plate is pressed through the hole. This is gradually opened from week to week until the hole has been stretched into the proper size.
 The Burmese men also pierce their ears and wear earrings, but the cere- mony with them is not important and their earrings are not of the gorgeous character of those of the women.- Golden Days.