DYSTROPHIES 



2239 



Definition. — Tattooing is the formation of more or less indelible 

 marks in the skin by means of rubbing pigments or irritating sub- 

 stances into slight wounds made for the purpose. 



General Account. — It appears to us that tattooing was originally 

 preceded by face and body painting, which in the form of ' war 

 paint ' is well known to have been used in many savage tribes 

 when about to enter into combat with their enemies. At first this 

 painting was very simple, and consisted in merely smearing the 

 face with some form 'of pigment, but eventually in certain peoples 

 it became more and more elaborate. Painting, however, is only a 

 temporary method of adornment, and many peoples have adopted 

 in its place the permanent tattooing. The essential reason Ifor 



Fig. 877. — Tattooing. 



tattooing is the ornamentation of the person, but taking its origin 

 in the custom of painting the face before going to war, it is generally 

 more elaborate in men than in women. 



In Africa the marks have a most varied significance. Thus, 

 according to Hobley, the Ja-Luo girls are tattooed because it is 

 thought that unless this is done a woman will not bear children. 

 Among the Retosh, the warrior, after kilhng an enemy in warfare, 

 has two rows of marks tattooed on his right chest and shoulder, 

 to prevent the spirit of his dead enemy bewitching him. 



In its simplest form it is seen in West Africa, where short straight 

 skin-cuts are made by means of a sharp piece of iron, after which 

 some pigment or irritating substance is rubbed into the wound, 

 the idea being to produce a keloid. If this fails, anoth'^r cut is 

 made into the same place, and more pigment is rubbed in until the 



