The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1889-10-22
HATToOING IN eURMAti.
How 1t Is Performed-Opium as an An.
Observation-Disclosures.

HOW lt Is PertOrIneu-Op1um as an An
asthetic-Designs.
Of all Burmese customs, one of the
most singular is that of tattooing the
person, from the waist to below the
knees, with figures in black ink. Every
nan in the country is thus adorned, and
lnless his skin be unusually dark, he
looks at a little distance as though he
we're clothed in tight fitting pair of
knee breeches. The custom is said to be
falling into disuse, but I have seen very
few Burmans without this ''mark OF
manhood" which is conferred upon him
when he is about 10 to IA years old. The
operation is painful one, and was glad
Of the opportunity that now offered to
see it, though aware that it takes at least
TWO or three days TO complete.
Pho Myin, the subject, is lying on
mat quite nude. with dazed look in his
half closed eyes, and breathing heavily.
Moung Daw mods at him meaningly.
''He has taken much opium" he says,
grinning to me.
am not surprised at it. If the Htok-
winsayahgyee was going to exercise his
art upon me for four or five hours,
should follow the Burman's plan and
AXE opium by way of an anasthetic.
The tattooing will show well upon the
plump, fair skinned lad before US, and
The professor evidently thinks he is
subject to take pains with, as he sits
carefully mixing his ink in a joint of
bamboo and preparing his weapon. This
IS brass rod nearly two feet long and
about half an inch thick; it is weighted
It the top with little ornamental figure,
nd at the other end has hollow point
divided by two cross Sits into four fine
tricks. The professor examines the
business end" critically, and, having
atisfed himself that it is sharp enough,
7scks up his putsoe and squats at Pho
Myths side. Selecting q spot on the
high, he places both feet on it a few
inches apart, and stretching the skin
light, draws the outline of the first
igure-a tiger rampant-with an inky
,plinter of bamboo; this is soon
lone, and relieving himself of a large
nouthful of betelnut, the professor set
lies down to work in earnest. Leaning
orward through his widely parted knees,
ne balances the brass style daintily, and,
,lasping it with the finger and thumb Of
die right hand, makes s'bridge" of the
tween his feet. After sliding the instru-
ment through his fingers once or twice,
Is if to take aim, he makes a start and
oricks away steadily with light firm
ouch that is wonderfully quick and true.
In less than five minutes the tiger, with
its surrounding border, is finished, and
the artist removes his feet from the dis
tended skin, and washes off the superhu-
GUS ink to see how his work has come
out. Everybody presses forward to look
Ut the picture, which shows up in bold
relief on the rapidly formed swelling.
MOung Saik exchanges a remark with
his wife, and the tattooer resumes his
working position to draw the outline Of
the next figure.
The boy, stupefed with opium, lies in
sensible to the pain, while one figure after
another gradually appears on his skin.
Deep as the points of the style sink, they
| draw little blood, but the limb swells in
a manner that would alarm any one who
| did not know it would return to its nor
NAL size in day or two. Fever some
| times intervenes, and in that case the pa
| tent waits for time before the work of
| illustration is resumed, so it often exc
Ccuuo ONSl d ptllOu vi q WSSh VI CSi OdySs
| during which the inconvenience suffered
is considerable. Without the aid Of
opium the process would be a much
longer one. found that could not en-
dure the application of the style for more
than thirty consecutive seconds without
dinching SO much as to interfere with the
operators movements; for the skin is
p6cked over SO closely that it becomes
too tender to sustain their repetition.
Eight rupees is the usual fee paid to q
tattooer for endowing lad with breeches.
The figures that compose them vary
little, consisting as a rule of tigers,
''nagas" (dragons) and "beloes" devils.
Each one is surrounded with border Of
sentences. generally ilegible, invoking
good luck upon the owner of the skin
wherein they are inscribed. The waist
and knees are neatly finished off with a
tasteful edging of point or scroll pattern
these sensitive parts of the body are the
last to be done, and tattooers. have told
me that the pain caused frequently
arouses the patient from his torpor.-
Cornhill Magazine.