Stephens City star. (Stephens City, Va.) 1881-1883, 1882-02-25
TATrOOING.
Various Methods of Different Nntions.-Sin'
RuIar Methods of Bnrbnrous Ornamental

IatGOO1nR Is muCQ more commonly
practiced in the world than is generally
The subject has been spe-
cially investigated by M. Magatot, who
has endesvored to determine the geo.
distribution of the different
forms of tattooing. The following is
resume Of the principal results of this
study:
In its most simple forms tattooing
exists everywhere. 1t is not rare, we
know, even in Western nations, to meet
with men and women who have draw
ings on various parts of the body. The
most ordinary process is to burn pow
der on small incisions penetrating the
epidermia. As to the object of it, this
is in some obscurity. Men regard it as
an ornament, and as proof of virility
and mark of distinction. Taking
general view Of oil peoples, it often
presents itself with the character and
Specification of other mutilations. M.
Letourneau records the case of Ha.
waiian who tattooed himself in token of
grief and respect on the death of the
king. But more than any other mutt
lation, it serves as an ornamentation
among naked peoples, and as title of
nobility and dignity among the unciv-
ilized.
Man seems to have commenced with
adjoining the body by painting in vari-
GUS colors, as 80 many savages do at
present. And it is, perhaps, by the
simple application of different colors
to the skin, that he determined his tribe
and his rank. The tribes of the ANA
zon are still distinguished by the col
ored marks they make on the lips and
the body. The idea has arisen among
many people to make marks for intro
duction of the coloring matters (gener-
ally obtained from the juices of plants
aud so render these marks indelible.
Tattooing by pricking is the most
widely expanded. One finds it in all
parts of the world, from New Zealand
to the Tongouses. 1t is largely prac-
ticed in its most perfect form in Poly
nesia and Malaysia. But in Polynesia,
particularly, they do not for the most
part confine themselves to simple
pricking.
Applying to the skin design, cut in
q leaf or piece of bark, they follow the
lines of it with special knife of bone,
making missions in the skin, and
stanching the blood as they proceed.
They do not always content themselves,
after incision, with introducing the
coloring matters, but often add corro-
sive plants for the purpose of producing
pimples in the wound. This is espe-
cially practiced in the Viii and Mar
quise Islands, and in New Zealand. 1t
is we'll known, in particular, that Maori
warriors thus carry on their faces q
tattooing quite in relief, the operation
Of which is extremely painful. The
designs, often very we'll executed, are
complicated to indicate the rank, the
family and the exploits. Among the
Australians, 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 prowess in fishing, in the
chase, or in war. But even in this de-
gree of simplicity, tattooing seems to
have become rite among certain peo-
pie. 1t is frequently old women that
are charged to practice it. 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. It tends to remove the i'm
preston of nudity. It is, moreover
highly ornamental, and one can under
stand how the Polynesians, who become
skilful in covering themselves with
graceful arabesque, circles and lines
regularly combined, have passion for
the art. This passion, it appears, often
costs dear. In his recent voyage in
Micronesia (1876), Miklucko-Macla re-
marked that the inhabitants of the Pc
lau Archipelago were less tattooed than
those of the neighboring island of Jap,
and the other Polynesians.
They are, however, not less fond of
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 ner-
vous or more sensible to pain. does not
always prove resistant. Their health
is affected 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 America 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
Oomanches were then hostile tribe.
Caught in pillage- expedition by the
Apaches, she was by them tattoed over
the whole of the back by way of pun
ishment. The painful operation was
prolonged fifteen months. This I'M
happy girl escaped, and was received
as servant in an American house at
Joseph, Arizona.
The complicated and truly aesthetic
tattooing which forms the garb of SO
manyIPolynesians is not known in Africa.
The Niams-Niams, and the women OF
Hammedj, Matambue, Makonde, Man.
pania and Machinoa ornamAnt than.