mallekv ] TATTOO IIAIDA PACIFIC ISLANDS. 73 



of needles tied neatly to sticks. His favorite one was a flat strip of 

 ivory or bone, to which he had firmly tied five or six needles, with their 

 points projecting- beyond the end just far enough to raise the skin with- 

 out inflicting a dangerous wound, but these needle points stuck out 

 quite sufficiently to make the operation very painful, and although he 

 applied some substance to deaden the sensation of the skin, yet the 

 effect was on some to make them quite sick for a few days; conse- 

 quently the whole process of tattooing was not done at one time. As 

 this tattooing is a mark of honor, it is generally done at or just prior 

 to a Toinanawos performance and at the time of raising the heraldic 

 columns in front of the chief's houses. The tattooing is done in open ■ 

 lodge and is witnessed by the company assembled. Sometimes it takes 

 several years before all the tattooing isdone,but when completed and the 

 person well ornamented, then they are happy and can take their seats 

 among the elders. 



It is an interesting question, and one worthy of careful and patient 

 investigation, Why is it that the Haida Nation alone of all the coast 

 tribes tattoo their persons to such an extent, and how they acquire the 

 art of carving columns which bear such striking similarity to carving in 

 wood and stone by the ancient inhabitants of Central America, as shown 

 by drawings in Bancroft's fourth volume of Native Races and in Habel's 

 investigation in Central and South America ? 



Some of these idols in design, particularly on pages 40 to 58, and 

 notably on pages 49-50 (Bancroft, op. cit.), are very like some small 

 carvings I have in Port Townsend which I received from Alaska, show- 

 ing a similarity of idea which could not be the result of an accident. 



The tattoo marks, the carvings, and heraldic designs of the Haida 

 are an exceedingly interesting study, and I hope what I have thus 

 hastily and imperfectly written may be the means of awakening an in- 

 terest to have those questions scientifically discussed, for they seem to 

 me to point to a key which may unlock the mystery which for so many 

 ages has kept us from the knowledge of the origin of the Pacific tribes. 



TATTOOING IN THE PACIFIC ISLANDS. 



The following quotations and illustrations of tattooing in the islands 

 of the Pacific Ocean are presented for comparison, and in hopes that the 

 discussion of the subject may afford further information upon the sig- 

 nificance of tattoo marks. It is by no means probable that they were 

 originally altogether or chiefly for ornamentation. 



The accompanying illustration, Figure 34, is taken from a bone ob- 

 tained from a mound in New Zealand, by Mr. I. C. Eussell, of the United 

 States Geological Survey, several years ago. Mr. Russell says that 

 the Maori formerly tattooed the bones of enemies, though the custom 

 now seems to have been abandoned. The work consists of sharp, shal- 



