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Show 72 PICT0GRAPH8 OP THE NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS. - Fig. 25 represents a man. On his breast is the cod ( kahatta) split from the head to the tail and laid open ; on each thigh is the octopus ( uoo), and below each knee is the frog ( flkamkostan). Figure 26 represents a woman. On her breast is the head with fore-paws of the beaver ( tsching); on each shoulder is the head of the eagle or thunder- bird ( skamskwin); on each arm, extending to and covering the back of the hand, is the halibut ( hargo); on the right leg is the sculpin ( kull); on the left leg is the frog ( flkamkostan). Figure 27 is a woman with the bear's head ( hoorts) on her breast. On each shoulder is the eagle's head, and on her arms and legs are figures of the bear. Figure 28 shows the back of a man with the wolf ( wasko) split in halves and tattooed between his shoulders, which is shown enlarged in Figure 33. Wasko is a mythological being of the wolf species similar to the chu- chu- hmexl of the Makah Indians, an antediluvian demon supposed to live in the mountains. The skulpin on the right leg of the woman in Figure 26 is shown enlarged in Figure 29; the frog in the left leg in Figure 30. The codfish on the man in Figure 25 is shown enlarged in Figure 31, the octopus or sqid in Figure 32. As the Haidas, both men aud women, are very light colored, some of the latter, full blooded Indians too, having their skins as fair as Europeans, the tattoo marks show very distinct. These sketches are not intended as portraits of persons, but simply to illustrate the positions of the various tattoo marks. To enter into a detailed description would require more space and study than is convenient at this time. Enough is given, it is hoped, to convey to you an idea of this interesting subject, which will require much study to properly elaborate or understand. This tattooing is not all done at one time nor is it every one who can tattoo. Certain ones, almost always men, have a natural gift which enables them to excel in this kind of work. One of the young chiefs, named Geneskelos, was the best designer I knew, and ranked among his tribe as a tattooer. He belonged to Laskeek village on the east side of Moresby's Island, one of the Queen Charlotte group. I employed him to decorate the great canoe which I sent to the Centennial Exposition at Philadelphia in 1876, for the National Museum. I was with him a great deal of the time both at Victoria and Port Townsend. He had a - little sketch book in which he had traced designs for tattooing, which he gave to me. He subsequently died in Victoria of small- pox, soon after he had finished decorating the canoe. He told me the plan he adopted was first to draw the design carefully on the person with some dark pigment, then prick it in with needles and then rub over the wound with some more coloring matter till it acquired the proper hue He had a variety of instruments composed |
