PACIFIC AND BEERING’S STRAIT. 
139 
operation, and terminate at the upper part in a straight line, from ear CHAP, 
to ear, passing over the bridge of the nose. With these exceptions, to 
which we may add the fashion, with some few, of blue lines, resembling jau. 
stockings, from the middle of the thigh to the ankle, the effect is be- 
coming, and in a great measure destroys the appearance of nakedness. 
The patterns which most improve the shape, and which appear to me 
peculiar to this groupe, are those which extend from the armpits to the 
hips, and are drawn forward with a curve which seems to contract the 
waist, and at a short distance gives the figure an elegance and outline 
not unlike that of the figures seen on the walls of the Egyptian tombs. 
It would be useless to describe the various fanciful attempts to efface 
the natural colour of the skin ; the most common only will be noticed 
A large cross, about eight inches in diameter, left white on each side, 
on the latissimus dorsi ; and a smaller one on each shoulder, or on the 
upper part of the arm : also a narrow stripe passing from one shoulder 
to the other in a curved line over the lower part of the neck, uniting 
the tattooing over the fleshy part of the deltoid muscle ; and in many 
so joined as to leave the natural skin in the form of a cross in the 
middle. Imitations of blue pantaloons and breeches are also very 
common, and sleeves which divide at the wrist, and extend along the 
convexity of the metatarsal bones to the tips of the fingers and thumbs, 
leaving a space between the thumb and forefinger, on which the mark 
V is punctured. The chief had this mark, the crosses, the slender 
Waist, and pantaloons. The women are very little subjected to this 
torture. The wife of the areghe had an armlet on each arm ; a female 
who came with her had a square upon her bosom, and some few had 
stockings. From the circumstance of none of the boys being tattooed, 
it is probable the practice commences here, as in many other islands, 
after puberty. 
The lines in all cases are drawn with great precision, and almost 
always with taste, and bespeak great proficiency. The practice un- 
doubtedly improves the appearance of the figure, and may perhaps, as 
iu the Marquesas, distinguish certain classes or tribes. At Otaheite it 
is supposed to harden the skin, and render it less liable to be blistered 
l^y the sun. Covering the face with lines is very rare in the South 
T 2 
