THE SAVAGE ORIGIN OF TATTOOING. 803 



A last proof of our position is given by tlie hieroglyphics which 

 we have found to be so frequent among the tattoo marks of crimi- 

 nals, and upon certain inscriptions which undoubtedly go back to 

 an ancient age. A very interesting specimen of this kind is found 

 in a study of tattooing in Portugal by Dr. Peixotto {Tatouage en 

 Portugal, 1893), which I reproduce here : 



Sator SATOR 



Arepo ARE P O 



Tenet TENET 



Opera OPERA 



Rotas ROTAS 



As the reader will see, it is the formula of a square, which re- 

 produces the same words, " Sator," " Arepo," " Tenet," " Opera," 

 and " Rotas," on whichever of the four sides we read it, and in 

 whichever vertical or horizontal direction one of those magical 

 formulas which, according to Kohler (Anthropological Society of 

 Berlin, 1891), were used to drive away fevers from the age of the 

 Romans, as far back probably, at least, as Cato's time. 



The influences of atavism and tradition seem to me to be con- 

 firmed by the fact that we find the custom of tattooing diffused 

 among classes so tenacious of old traditions as shepherds and 

 peasants. 



After this study, it appears to me to be proved that this 

 custom is a completely savage one, which is found only rarely 

 among some persons who have fallen from our honest classes, 

 and which does not prevail extensively except among criminals, 

 with whom it has had a truly strange, almost professional, diffu- 

 sion ; and, as they sometimes say,^t performs the service among 

 them of uniforms among our soldiers. To us they serve a psy- 

 chological purpose, in enabling us to discern the obscurer sides 

 of the criminal's soul, his remarkable vanity, his thirst for ven- 

 geance, and his atavistic character, even in his writing. 



Hence, when the attempt is made to introduce it into the re- 

 spectable world, we feel a genuine disgust, if not for those who 

 practice it, for those who suggest it, and who must have some- 

 thing atavistic and savage in their hearts. It is very much, in its 

 way, like returning to the trials by God of the middle ages, to 

 juridical duels atavistic returns which we can not contemplate 

 without horror. 



O Fashion ! You are very frivolous ; you have caused many 

 complaints against the most beautiful half of the human race ! 

 But you have not come to this, and I believe you will not be per- 

 mitted to come to it. 







