ntion, I soon recovered, and
before I was aware that I was to be her husband I courted her by signs,
and all the little attentions that could be suggested by gratitude and
love. As soon as I was supposed to be sufficiently recovered I was led
into a large circle of the islanders, to be formally admitted into their
society. A venerable old man made a speech, which I presume was not a
very good one from its extreme length, and then several men laid hold of
me, and throwing me on the ground, face downwards, sat astride on me,
and commenced running needles into the upper part of my thighs. The pain
was excessive, but as all the islanders were tattooed about the loins, I
presumed it was an operation that I must submit to, and I bore it with
fortitude.

* * * * *

"And pray what is that tattooing?"

"Tattooing, may it please your highness, is puncturing the skin with
needles or sharp points--and then rubbing Indian ink or gun-powder into
the wounds. This leaves an indelible mark of a deep blue tint. All the
islanders in those seas practise it, and very often the figures that are
drawn are very beautiful."

"Mashallah! How wonderful is God! I should like to see it," rejoined the
pacha.

"Allah forbid," replied the renegade, "that I should expose my person to
your highness. I know my duty better."

"Yes, but I must see it, yaha bibi, my friend!" continued the pacha,
impatiently; "never mind your person. Come--obey my orders."

The renegade was a little at a nonplus, as he never had undergone the
operation which he had described. Fortunately for the support of his
veracity, it happened that during one of his piratical excursions, in
an idle fit, he had permitted one of his companions to tattoo a small
mermaid on his arm.

"Min Allah! God forbid," rejoined the renegade; "my life is at the
disposal of your highness, and I had sooner that you should take it,
than I would affront your august eyes with the exposure in question;
fortunately I can gratify your highness's curiosity without offending
decency--as, after they had finished the operation I was describing,
they made the figure of their most respected deity upon my arm." The
renegade then pulled up his sleeve, and showed the figure of a mermaid,
with a curling tail, a looking-glass in one hand and a comb in the
other. "Here your highness will perceive a specimen of their rude art.
This is a representation of their goddess, Bo-gee. In on