The Races of Oceania

Tattooing nowhere reaches such perfection as in these regions. In Polynesia the men are in general more tattooed than the women; but in some places both sexes are alike, and on Nukuor the women only are thus adorned. The custom of tattooing the face was not in use among all Polynesians, particularly not in Rarotonga; though universal among the Maoris, with whom the Rarotongans were brought into the closest contact. The special forms of tattooing intended to excite fear seem to have left off since the introduction of European modes of fighting. Another advantage claimed for tattooing is that it obliterates differences of age. Lastly the embellishment resulting from it must not be forgotten; as the tattooer's song says:

Tattooed Maori. (From a photograph in the possession of Herr Max Buchner.)

Here, as with other Polynesians, tattooing is no doubt founded upon, and proceeds from, some religious idea. It is regarded as a sacred profession, which is exercised by the priest to the accompaniment of prayers and hymns. The figures depicted are often those of sacred animals like snakes and lizards. In Samoa it is based on the doctrine of the Atua or tutelary spirit in beast shape; which was why the missionaries found it so hard to put an end to the practice. In the Micronesian region tattooing has become to a great extent a pure matter of decoration, but not everywhere.

Tattooed Maori. (From a photograph in the possession of Herr Max Buchner.)

On Nukuor the women live for three months secluded in the sacred house, and bathe in the sea before undergoing the operation, which extends only to a small portion of the lower part of the body. In the Radack group the patient spends the previous night in the house of the chief, who prays for favourable tokens. In the Society and Paumotu Islands, the Marquesas, the Carolines, differences are made according to rank; the common people being tattooed on the loins only, whilst the Erii or Ariki are distinguished by large circular markings over the whole body. In the Gilbert Islands a poor man who is tattooed enjoys more influence in the general council than a rich man whose surface is blank. On Rotuma caste-distinctions are indicated by tattooing.

Necklace of tortoise-shell
Friendly Islands

Yet the chief's rank is not always thus expressed; many chiefs are but slightly tattooed, while ordinary citizens show this ornament all over their persons. In the Marshall Islands the right of tattooing the cheeks is reserved to the chiefs, while on Mortlock Island differences of rank are shown in the decoration of the legs. The two sides of the body are often unsymmetrical, and in this case the right side receives the more elaborate treatment. The Samoans select for tattooing exactly the region which we cover with bathing-drawers; the effect produced being that of a striped and spotted cloth wrapped about them. Among the Maoris it took years before the body was ornamented up to the design conceived in the artist's fancy; but with them the traits of the face are literally dissolved in arabesques. The operation, as applied to lips, eyelids, and nose, was painful, especially before the introduction of iron; in the Hervey Islands, Forster saw even tenderer portions of the frame sedulously tattooed.

Tattooing instruments from the Friendly Islands
longest dimension approx 225mm
(British Museum).

The method is in this wise. The figure is drawn where required; then a little stick, pointed with stone, bone (human bone for choice), or iron, is tapped with a wooden mallet so as to form a series of punctures along the lines. The tattooing tools consist of an instrument something like a little hoe, made of hard wood - four shapes occur in Samoa - the flat blade of which terminates in a number of sharp teeth, and a little mallet made of the same wood and shaped like a paddle, which serves to drive it in. For colouring, the Maoris use the soot of kauri-pine wood.

Besides this, in time of mourning the skin of the face, arms, and legs has to undergo cutting with sharp shells, while at festivities it was usual to colour it with red and black paint. Thus when Cook visited Easter Island the women had painted their faces with ruddle, some also with the yellow dye of the turmeric; others whitening them with cross-streaks of lime. Herewith we may reckon the fact that in accordance with the proverb "No wife for a hairy man," every vestige of hair is removed from the face; though it is otherwise in Micronesia. In other parts of the body the hair is extracted with tweezers made of mussel-shell.

Circumcision in a modified form is very common; though over large regions such as Hawaii and New Zealand it is not practised, and elsewhere, as in the Marquesas, is not universal. This operation also is of a religious character, and is performed by the priests.