The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1876-06-17

vi nopie ureek Iainiiy, from the province
Of ALBANIA, arrived in New York on the
3D. inst. in the Suevia. From head to foot
on every inch of his body, including even
his scalp and the soles Of his feet, he Is a
mass Of the most artistic and eIaborately
colored tattooiDg, in letters, signs, and
figures of quadrupeds, birds, fishes, and
reptiles. Captain Costentenus is tall, dark
complexioned, of superb physique, and
about As years of age. He does not read
English, but converscs Auently in his own
tongue, and in the Italian, Arab, Turkish,
and Persian languages, and speaks little
French and German, and few words Of
English. The climate here affects him 50
that he keeps mufiled in a coarse suit lined
with fur, with soft round cap pulled
down over his forehead, and thick pair
of gloves on his har,is. His heavy beard
only partially eonceals the tattooing on his
weather-beaten face.
COstentenus's early history is that of
many Albanians. He has always been a
soldier of fortune In 1867 he and eleven
others penetrated Chinese Tartary and
sided with the rebels. The party were
captured, and two or three were killed,
and the rest were submitted to an ordeal
Of tattooing, which only two survived,
Capt. Costentenus and a Spaniard, who
has since died. The operation lasted three
months, and was performed daily. Six
men held him down while seventh WELD
ed the tattooing apparatus. At the con
clusion Of the operation he regained his
health, and was freed by the Tartars, in
stead Of making his escape, as was reported.
This tattooing was done to warn outside
barbarians Of the danger of penetrating
the Tartars' domains.
Nothing like the Captains person has
ever been seen in civilized countries. BY
the side Of his gorgeously embellished
cuticle the tattooing of South Sea Island.
ers fades into insignifcanee The material
used was indigo and cinnabar, the former
producing black and the latter a red.
AT the first glance the Captains body
seems to be covered with Turkish shawl,
but a closer examination shows that the
pictures in two colors are produced by un-
numbered points. On his forehead are
animals and inscriptions, and on the face
star-like figures. On the hands are nu-
mcrous red points, and figures resembling
sculptures, as well as long tailed, panther
like shapes. The ears are absolutely the
only part of the body free from tattooing,
even the scalp being embellished. On
the neck, chest, abdomen, back, and ex-
tremities, the skin is mass of symmetri-
cally arranged and admirably executed
figures of monkeys, tigers, lions, elephants,
peacocks, storks, swans, snakes, crocodiles,
lizards, mingled with bows, arrows, leaves,
flowers and fruits. Between the figures
are words in Berminian in blue and red
letters, and simple points or stars and
circles. The original skin is invisible.
On the palms of the hands are indescribable
figures, and little figures are on the inside
Of the fingers. On the back sides of both
feet to the toes are blue points, and from
the toes to the nails are red lines. Alto
gether there are 3ss tattooed pictures on
the entire body-on the forehead 2 neck
81 chest so back 81 abdomen 62; upper
extremities 1O1; lower extremities l37--
yet the Captain is in perfect health.
The instrument used in tattooing, the
Captain says, was divided into three parts.
The part holding the fluid was slit like
pen four inches long and an inch and
half wide, coming down to two points. In
the middle was cylinder Of brass four
inches long, and on top was third piece,
four inches long, Of iron, with knob at
the end. The three parts were Joined by
capsules. The instrument was inserted
between the thumb and fore6nger Of the
left hand to guide it, and the right hand
made the punctures with extreme rapidity.
The captain has several scars on his
person as evidence Of his numerous en-
gagements, and these show plainly through
the tattooing. He has seen every country
in the world except America. He is going
to the Centennial Exhibition Graphic.