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King Georges Island (continued)
of men, birds or dogs, the Women generaly have this figure Z simply on ever[y] joint of their fingures and toes. the men have it like wise and both have other other defferent figures such as circles, crescents &Ca which they were have on their Arms and legs - in short they are so various in the application of these figures that both the quantity and situation of them seem to depend intirely upon the humour of each individual. yet all agree in having their buttocks cover'd with a deep black, over this most have arches drawn one over the a[n]other as high as their short ribs which are near a quarter of an Inch broad - these arches seem to be their great pride as both men and women show them with great pleasure. Their method of Tattowing I shall now describe the Coulour they use is lamp black prepared from the smook of a kind of Oily nutt used by them instead of Candles, the Instruments for pricking it under the Skin is made of very thin ^ flat pieces of [b]one or shell from a quarter of an Inch to an Inch and a half broad according ^ to the purpose it is to be used for and about an inch and a half long one end is cut into sharp teeth and the other fasten'd to a handle. the teeth are diped into the black liquor and then drove by quick sharp blows struck upon the handle with a stick for that purpose into the Skin so deep that every stroke is followed [by] a small quantity of blood. the part so marked remains sore for some days before it heals - as this is a painfull operation especially the tattowing thier buttocks as it is perform'd but once in their life time it is never done untill they are 12 or 14 years of age —
Their cloathing are either of Cloth or matting of several differen[t] sorts. the dress of both men and Women are much
© Transcribed from National Library of Australia Manuscript 1 page 83, 2004
Published by South Seas
To cite this page use: https://paulturnbull.org/project/southseas/journals/cook_remarks-018
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