The Osceola times., 1882-03-11
TATTOOING.
Various Methods of Different Naiohs-
singular Methods of Barbarous orna'nen-
tation of the skin.

endeavored to determine the eeOgraphi-
cal distribution of the different forms OF
tattooinp, The following is resume OF
the principal retults of this study.
In its most simple forms tattooing exists
every where. 1t is not rare, we know,
even in Western nations TO meet with
men and women who have drawings on
various parts of the body. The most or
dinary process is to burn powder on
small incisions penetrating the epider-
mis-. As to the object OF 1t, this Is In
some obscurity. Men regard It as an or.
nament, and as proof OF yirility ana
mark of distinction. Taking general
view of all peoples, it often presents IT,
self with the character and signification
of other mutilations. NJ. Letourneau re-
cords the case of the Hawaiian, who tat
tooed himself in token Of grief and re-
spect on the death Of the king Butmore
than any other mutilation, it serves as
an ornamentation among naked peoples,
and as title OF nobility and dignity
among the uncivilized.
Man seems to have commenced with
adorning the body by painting 1t various
colors, as SO many savages do at present.
And it is, perhaps, by the simple appli-
cation of different c0lors to the skin, that
he determined his tribe and his rank.
The tribes of the Amazon are still dis
tinguished by the colored marks they
make on the lips and the body. The
idea has arisen among many people to
make pricks for introduction of the col
oring matters generally obtained from
the Juices of plants), and so render these
marks indellible. Tattooing by pricklng
is the most widely expanded. One finds
it in all parts of the world from New
Zealand to the Tongouses. 1t is largely
practiced in its most perfect form in
POLYNESIA an! MALAYSIA But in Polynesia
particularly, they do not, for the most
part, confne themselves to simple prick
ing.
Applying to the skin design cut in a
,eaf or piece of bark, they follow the
lines Of it with a special knife of bone
making incisiOns in the skin, and
staunching the blood as they proceed.
They do not always content themselves,
after incision, with introducing the col
oring matters, but often add corrosive
plants for the purpose Of producing PIN
ples in the wound lfaire bourgeonner la
plaiel. This is especially practiCed in
the Viii and Marquise Island, and in
New Zealand. II is well known, in par
ticular, that Maori warriors thus carry on
their faces a tattooing quite in relief, the
operation of which is extremely painful.
The designs, often very well executed
are complicated to indicate the rank, the
family and the exploits. Among the
Austrians, some new designs are added
at each solemn period of life.
The Tchoukehis of Eastern Siberia.
who are completely clad, limit them
selves to making deep incisions TO de-
note their proves in fishing, in the
chase, or in war. Bat even in this de-
gree of simplicity, tattooing seems to
have become rite among certain people.
II is frequently old women that are
charged to practice if. But in many
cases, as among the Alfourvins, it is the
priest or the chief that presides at the
ceremony.
All who have seen men completely
tattooed, know that tattooing seems to
take the place, TO some extent, of clothes.
1t tends TO remove the impression of nu-
dity. 1t is, moreover, highly ornament
al and one can understand how the
Polvne,ans, who become skillful in COW
ering themselves with graceful arabes-
que, circles and lines regularly combined,
have passion for the art. This passion,
il appears often costs dear. In his recent
voyage in Micronesia, 1876, Miklucko-
Maclay remarked that the inhabitants of
the Pelan Archipelago were less tattooed
than those of the neghboring island Of
Jap, and the other Polynesians.
L. e
tattooing, and sometimes produce very
complicated forms of it. But they do
not bear the operation well. They do
not appear to be less robust in constitu-
tion, but from some indeterminate causes,
their system, perhaps more nervous or
more sensible TO pain. does not always
prove resistant. Their health is affect
ed by the operation, and they sometimes
die. The women bear it neither better
nor worse than the men. They adorn
the backs of the hands, half the arms,
and the outer sides of the legs with rows
of crosses, stars, points, lines simple and
zigZag.
The Indians of Americo tattoo, it is
known, very little. Though strongly
resistant to pain, they look upon tattoo
ing as kind of disgraceful mutilation.
A few years ago, an Indian of the tribe
of the Apaches, in Arizona, sought a
Young Comanche girl as his wife The
Comanches were then hostile tribe.
Caught in pillage-expedition by the
Apaches. she was BY them tattooed over
the whole of the back by way of punish.
ment. The painful operation was pro.
longed fifteen months This unhappy
girl escaped, and was received as ser
want in an American house at Joseph, in
Arizona.
The complicated and truly aesthetic
tattooing which forms the garb of so
many Polynesians is not known in Afri-
ca The Niams-Niams, and the women
of IIammedj, Matambue, Makonde,
Mangania, and Machinga ornament
themselves with comparatively elegant
bands. The Baris paint themselves
with pipe-clay, the Beruns and the Ber-
tas with red ocher, the Monbuttos with
red wood or black juice of gardenia; but,
in general, they contine themselves to
pretty gross incisions and pricks, such
as the large cuts in the cheeks and the
temples in the Berabras and the Bedias,
and the colored cuts of the Rantetochs
of Loaugo.
The Bongos tattoo themselves pretty
completely, even the arms; but they do
not make drawings with series OF
prickings. They make, according TO
Schweinturtb, long incisions, the cica-
trization of which they retard by appli-
cation Of irritating substances. The
wound forms pimples, and the flesby ex-
crescences once cicatrized. there remains
an indelible swelling. The inhabitants
of Ouwinuli, to the east and on the coast
of Lake Tanganyika, have, accc )rding TO
Cameron, a strong taste for tattooing.
They are covered with small incisions