The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1889-02-22
TATTOOISG.
The Manner in which the Orientais Fer
form tho Practice.

The Manner in which the Orientals Fer
form tho Practice.
Tattooing viii show well uTou ths
plump, fair-sSinned lad before US. and
the Professor evidently thinks re Is a
subject to take pains with, as be site
carefully mixing his ink in a joint OF
bamboo and preparing his weapon.
This Is n brass rod nearly two feet long
and about half sn inch thick; Il il
weighted at the top with little orna-
mental figure, and at the other end has
a hollow point divided by two cross slits
into four fine pr!eks.
The Professor examines the business
end critically, and, having satisfied
himself that it is sharp enough, tucks uI
bis putsoe and squats at Pho Myin's side
Selecting a spot on the thigh, he place.
both feet on IL n few inches apart, and
stretching the skin tight, draws the cut
line OF the first fgure-a tiger rampant
with an inky splinter of bamboo.
This Is soon done, and relieving him
self of a large mouthful of betelput, the
Professor settles down 70 work in earn
est. Loaning forward through his widely
parted knees he balances the brass styls
daintily, and clasping it with the finger
and thumb of the right hand, makes a
bridge" OF tho left, which he rests Oh
After sliding the Instrument through
his fingers once or twice, as IL TO take
aim, he makes = start and pricks away
steadily with a light, firm touch that Is
wonderfully quick and true. In less
than i've minutes ths tiger with its sur
rounding border Is finished, and the art
1T removes his feet from the ciistended
skin and washes of the superiuous ink
to see how his work has como out
Everybody presses forward To look at
the picture, which shows up in bold
relief on the rapidly-formed swelling.
Aoun8 Saik exchanges n remark with
his wife, and the tattooer resumes his
working posi- ion to draw the outline Of
the rext figure The boy, stupefied with
opium, lies insensibls TO the pain, while
one figure after another gradually ap-
pears on his skin.
Deep as the points of the style sink they
draw but little blood, but the limb sweIls
in a manner that would alarm any one
who did not know IL would return TO it,
normal size IN a day or two. Fever some
times intervenes, and in that c.;se the pa-
tient waits for time before the work of
illustration Is resumed, 20 II often ex-
tends over q period OF week or ten day.
during which the inconvenience suffered
Is considerable.
without the aId or opium the process
would be n much longer one. found
that / could not endure the application
of the style for more than 90 consecutive
seconds without dinching so much as 20
interfere with tie operators movements,
for the skin Is Pricked over SO closely that
IL becomes too tender TO sustain tkeir
repetition.
Eight rupcrs Ia the usual fee paid ts
a tattooer for endowinG = lad with
breeches.
The figures that compose them vary
little, con istinG, HS 4 rule, OF tigers,
'nagas' (drAEous), and "belooS'' (ie-
vilsj. Each one i surrounded with y
border of sentences, generally illcziblc.
invoking good luck upon the owner OF
the skin whereon they are inscriJed.
The waist and knees are neatly finished
of with a tasteIui edSing of point or
scroll pattern; these sensitive parts Of
the body are the last to be done, and tat
tooers have told me that he pain caused
frequently arouses the patient from his
toFpor.-Cognhiu 1iagazine.