SWANTON] INDIA^re OF THE SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES 533 



Indeed, Catesby, who visited many of the same tribes, although he 

 also extended his explorations to the Chickasaw, says of the Indians 

 he met: 



Their war captains and men of distinction have usually the portrait of a 

 serpent, or other animal, on their naked bodies ; this is done by puncture and a 

 black powder conveyed under the skin. These figures are esteemed not only 

 as ornamental, but serve to distinguish the warriors, making them more known 

 and dreaded by their enemies. (Catesby, 1831-43, vol. 2, p. ix.) 



The best descriptions of tattooing to be had in any of the early 

 writings are those given by Bartram having special reference to the 

 Creeks and Cherokee. In his Travels he gives the following note : 



Some of the warriors have the skin of the breast, and muscular parts of the 

 body, very curiously inscribed, or adorned, with hieroglyphick scrolls, liowers, 

 figures of animals, stars, crescents, and the sun in the centre of the breast. 

 This painting of the flesh, I understand, is performed in their youth, by pricking 

 the skin with a needle, until the blood starts, and rubbing in a bluish tint which 

 is as permanent as their life. (Bartram, 1940, p. 394.) 



In the third volume of Transactions of the American Ethnological 

 Society, he has the following : 



But the most beautiful painting now to be found among the Muscogulges, is 

 on the skin and bodies of their ancient chiefs and micos, which is of a bluish, 

 lead, or indigo color. It is the breast, trunk, muscular or fleshy part of the arms 

 and thighs, and sometimes almost every part of the surface of the body, that Is 

 thus beautifully depicted or written over with hieroglyphics: commonly the sun, 

 moon, and planets occupy the breast ; zones or belts, or beautiful fanciful scrolls, 

 wind round the trunk of the body, thighs, arms, and legs, dividing the body into 

 many fields or tablets, which are ornamented or filled up with innumerable 

 figures, as representations of animals or battle with their enemy, or some 

 creature of the chase, — and a thousand other fancies. These paintings are 

 admirably well executed, and seem to be inimitable. They are performed by 

 exceedingly fine punctures, and seem like mezzotinto, or very ingenious impres- 

 sions from the best executed engravings. They are no doubt hieroglyphics, or 

 mystical writings or records of their tribes or families or of memorable events, 

 etc., etc. (Bartram, 1853, p. 19.) 



Pope (1792, p. 60) informs us that tattooing was practiced on young 

 Creek Indians of both sexes, and he cites the case of a boy of four who 

 bore the pain with Indian stolidity and, when released, exclaimed, 

 "Now, I'm a man, and a warrior too." 



Ribault says of the Timucua Indians of Florida : 



The forepart of their bodies and arms they also paint with pretty devices in 

 azure, red, and black, so well and properly, that the best painters of Europe could 

 not improve upon it. (French, 1875, p. 171; Swanton, 1922, p. 351.) 



And this evidently refers to tattooing because Laudonniere is 

 plainly speaking of the same designs when he remarks : 



The most part of them have their bodies, arms, and thighs painted with very 

 fair devices, the painting whereof can never be taken away, because the same 

 is pricked into the flesh. (Laudonniere, 1586, p. 6; Swanton, 1922, p. 351.) 



