Method of Tattooing. — Prevalence of Cuilcular Diseases. 573 



ancles, and from the elbows to tlie wrist. This curious 

 practice is performed on both sexes at from ten to twelve 

 years of age by old women, with whom it is a regular pro- 

 fession. The blue colouring matter used is obtained from 

 the abundant nut-like fruit of the Aleurites triloha, which they 

 heat on the fire, and then peel off the hard crust which forms 

 upon it. The operation is performed with the sharp point of 

 a species of pine, or with a pointed instrument* made from 

 fish-bone, which is placed upon the skin, when it is driven in 

 with a slight blow, till the whole design comes out upon the 

 body. Besides the turmeric already mentioned, we saw but 

 one colouring stuJBP, dyeing red, which seemed to be obtained 

 from Bixa Orellana, and is used by the natives to paint their 

 canoes with. 



Many of the natives are subject to a very disgusting scaly 

 eruption of the skin [Ichthyosis)^ but do not seem to feel any 

 discomfort from it. Some travellers ascribe this to the 

 immoderate use as an article of diet of raw uncooked fish. 

 It is singular that this malady is found on all the islands 

 near the equator, and was also found by Captain Cheyne 

 among the Pellew Islanders. That shrewd observer once 

 had on board for four months a native of Puynipet as 

 servant, whose whole body was covered with this eruption, 

 but who speedily lost every trace of it as soon as his chief 

 diet was salt meat and vegetables. Beside this cuticular 



* The natives of the Engano Islands, to the west of Sumatra, use precisely 

 similar instruments for the same purpose. 



