566 
NATURE 
[Oct. 8, 1885 
such rivers as the Po and the Rhone, and many had no doubt 
heard of the system of hydrographic stations recently established 
by the Italian Government in the basin of the Tiber. Why 
should we not endeavour to learn something definite and precise 
about the character of our own rivers? The investigation was 
only the natural complement, on the one hand, of the physical 
structure of the country, and, on the other hand, of its meteoro- 
logy. Our Scottish Meteorological Society had now succeeded 
in establishing meteorological stations throughout the country ; 
let hydrographic stations bear them company along our principal 
rivers. Rainfall and river discharge were mutually illustrative. 
On Overland Expeditions to the Arctic Coast of America, by 
John Rae, M.D., F.R.S.—The following table shows the 
approximate amount of geographical work done by the expe- 
ditions under— 
G.M. . G.M. G M. 
1821. Franklin & Richardson ~. onfoot .. 35 imcanoes 415 450 
"1826. x a3 nae * +» go inboats 955 1045 
Total . 1495 
in boat >. fin boat | are 
fe BACIC jens > i { on el eo 722 \on.eoastinee. 772 
f= 2 
3 bease&Simpson(H B.Co.) onfoot .. 95 inboats 722 817 
‘ fsledging ) a 
\Rae als lah ey)) sey aco jon foot fc” 2223 in boats 369 1492 
~4.) 
Grand total ... 4029 
A Word or Two on the Best and Safest Route by which to attain 
a High Nos thern Latitude, by John Rae, M.D., LL.D., F.R.S., 
F.R.G.S., &c.—The plan proposed is that the route by the west 
shore of Spitzbergen should be taken by one, or perhaps two, 
steamers similar to the fine vessels used in sealing and whaling 
at the present time. That after forcing the ice “pack” at the 
north-west end of Spitzbergen, a north-east course towards 
Franz-Josef Land should be followed. That a depot of 
coals should be placed at a convenient harbour in North Spitz- 
bergen. Extracts are given from Parry’s ‘‘ Narrative,” 1827, 
pp. ror and 148, showing how open and small the ice was in 
latitude 82° 45’ N. The southern drift of the ice that so 
obstructed the advance of Parry’s boats will be no great impedi- 
ment to a powerful steamer, whilst if she gets helplessly fixed in 
the pack she will drift homewards with it. No well-equipped 
and powerful steamer has tried this route. 
FAPANESE TATTOOING 
“THE last number (Heft 32, May, 1885) of the AZt/thetlungen 
der deutschen Gesellschaft fiir Natur- und Volkerkunde 
Ostastens is almost wholly occupied by a paper of a most ex- 
haustive character by Dr. Baelz, a physician in the service of the 
Japanese Government, on the physical qualities of the Japanese. 
A previous paper by the same writer gave the results of his in- 
ve:tigations into Japanese skeletons. For the purposes of the 
present paper he obtained numerous anthropometrical measure- 
ments—about 2500—based on a scheme which included seventy- 
nine measurements in the case of each individual. It is noticeable 
that Broca confined himself to little more than a third of this 
number, Virchow’s scheme contemplated thirteen, and at the 
most thirty-eight, Weissbach sixty-seven, and Quetelet, in his 
anthropometry, gives eighty-two measurements. The skeleton 
plan of the paper is as follows: 1. Skin and hair: the colour of 
the skin and its cause, artificial colouring, including tattooing, 
the characteristics and nature of the hair; 2. The pkyszgue in 
general, including the carriage and gait of both sexes, weight, 
size, and growth; 3. Measurements of the body and limbs. In 
the discussion of the results set forth in this section the author 
expresses the opinion, based on his own investigations, that in 
general the value of these anthropometrical measurements is much 
exaggerated by anthropologists and ethnographers. 
The tattooing of the skin by Japanese, generally those of the 
lower classes, has attracted much observation from Europeans, 
due partly to the extraordinary elaboration and artistic skill 
displayed, partly to the fact that the occupations and customs of 
the class in which tattooing is most practised are such as to 
render it necessary frequently to wear none but the most 
* Actually two expeditions—one east, the other west. 
* Dease and Simpson had to pass over about 500 miles of previously traced 
coast before getting to new ground, but Franklin and Richardson were on 
Per eronnG at once on reaching the coast. 
3 Of the coast, &c., traced by Rae, 1123 miles were done by sledging, 
believed to be the most Jaborious of Arctic work. 
indispensable garments, This subject has never, so far as we 
are aware, been examined with so much thoroughness and care 
as by Dr. Baelz. He says that among the various peoples which 
have, in the course of centuries, reached a high standard of 
culture the Japanese are probably the only race which have 
retained generally the practice of tattooing and have brought it toa 
state of highly artistic development. Up toa few years ago the 
practice was so widespread that in Tokio alone there are estimated 
to have been, possibly still are, 30,000 men who were tattooed. 
This decoration is not confined, as in Western countries, to a 
small part of the body, but it covers the whole back and a 
considerable part of the limbs. The head, neck, hands, and 
feet are never tattooed, a cireumstance of importance in explaining 
the practice. It was confined to the lower classes ; amongst the 
better classes it was considered unworthy to disfigure the body 
in this way. It was widely spread amongst the workmen in 
great towns and coolies, and even to-day it is exceptional to find 
an old man of either of these occupations who is not tattooed. 
The objects illustrated were various : amongst the most common 
were large dragons, lions, battle scenes, beautiful women, 
historical occurrences, flowers, &c. Dr. Baelz states that he 
never saw obscene pictures tattooed. The colours employed are 
black, which appear blue, and various shades of red. ‘The first is 
obtained from Indian ink, the usual Japanese writing material, 
the red from cinnabar. When a man wishes to undergo the 
process he looks out in a popular picture-book some illustration 
which takes his fancy, or he evolves something from his own 
imagination, and goes with it to the artist. The latter makes 
his arrangements, and sketches the picture on the skin. If he 
is skillful at his calling he sketches the merest outline, and 
straightway introduces all the cletails ; but if he is not so confident 
in himself he first draws the whole picture on the skin. There 
is no special ceremony attending the work as in some of the 
South Sea Islands, nor is there any religious signification what- 
ever in the process. The artist uses for the purpose exceedingly 
fine, sharp sewing needles, fixed firmiy, four, eight, twelve, twenty, 
or forty together, in a piece of wood. They are arranged in 
several rows ; when there are forty they stand in four rows of ten 
each. The points are quite even, except when it is desired to 
produce a light or dark shading, when the needles are arranged in 
corresponding lengths. This combination is said to be especially 
painful. The skin, at the place where the puncturing is going 
on, is stretched between the thumb and first finger of the 
operator, who holds between the third and fourth fingers of the 
same hand a writing brush with ink or cinnabar, as may be 
required, on it. He holds the wood containing the needles in 
his right hand, and, having put the colour on them, he rests the 
hand on the thumb of his left hand, end then proceeds with’ ex- 
traordinary rapidity to puncture the skin, stopping every now 
and again to put on the fluid anew. Dr. Baelz counted on one 
oceasion ten punctures per second, and as there were ten needles 
the person being tattooed received one hundred punctures per 
second. The wonder is that with such speed excellent pictures, 
with various degrees of shading, can be produced, but such is 
the fact. A skillful operator can in this way puncture the back 
or breast and stomach of a grownman ina day. A few hundred 
thousand punctures are necessary for this purpose. The patient, 
if he may beso styled, does not suffer so much pain as might be 
expected. The puncturesare not very painful, they tickle rather 
than hurt. No blood is drawn; a circumstance which shows 
that the needles do not reach the cuticle, and which also explains 
the slight pain of the operation, and the possibility of enduring 
it. This, however, is not the case always, for in many parts of 
the body where the skin is tender, or where a deeper shade is 
required, some clammy blood comes slowly to the surface, and 
the operation becomes painful. This occurs most frequently at 
the knees and elbows. To be well tattooed, therefore, is taken 
as a sign of manly vigour and endurance. As soon as the sitting 
is over the punctured parts are bathed with warm water, which 
produces a slight pain. The colour then comes out more clearly 
than before, and the patient can do as he likes. No special diet is 
ordered. A few hours after the operation he often has a slight 
feverish feeling, but this soon leaves him. After about three 
days the skin scales off like bran, but the tattooed parts are 
never irritable or sensitive, and the man goes about his work as 
usual. There are cases in which women have been tattooed, but 
these are very rare. The women are mostly dissolute who allow 
this to be done ; but it is said that the colours come out with great 
clearness and beauty on the comparatively fair skins of women. 
Recently tattooing has been prohibited by law under the impression 
