ting in silent suspense for the event; but as soon as the
first stroke was given they interfered with great agitation, earnestly
entreating that he might be forgiven. Cook, however, did not think it
advisable to agree to this. He would not consent, and, when they found
that their entreaties were of no avail, they gave vent to their pity in
tears.

CHAPTER SEVEN.

SHOWS WHAT VANITY WILL INDUCE MEN AND WOMEN TO DO.

It fills one with wonder to think of the strange and absurd things that
men, in all ages and in all parts of the world, have done to themselves
in order to improve their personal appearance. The flat-head Indian of
North America squeezes his forehead out of shape; the Eastern beauty
blackens her teeth and nails; the Chinaman shaves the hair off his head,
leaving a tuft on the top; the Englishman shaves the hair off his face,
leaving a tuft on each cheek,--and all of these deluded mortals run thus
deliberately in the face of nature, under the impression that by so
doing they are improving their personal appearance!

Not to be behindhand, the South-Sea islanders tattoo themselves. In
other words, they prick a multitude of little holes in their skins, and
rub into these some colouring matter, which, when thoroughly fixed,
cannot again be washed out. The ornamental devices with which they
thus, more or less, cover their persons are sometimes very cleverly and
tastefully done, and they would be really admirable if depicted on a
piece of wood or a sheet of paper; but when applied to the human body
they are altogether ridiculous.

The operation of tattooing is a very painful one; so much so, that a
great deal of it cannot be done at one time, and it is said that persons
sometimes die during the process. The inhabitants of nearly all the
islands practise it. Usually it is commenced at the age of eight or
ten, and continued at intervals till the individual is between twenty
and thirty years of age.

So important and difficult is the art of tattooing, that men devote
themselves to it professionally, and these professors are well paid for
their work. Here is an account of the operation.

The professor, having his victim on the ground before him, takes up his
instrument of torture. This consists of a small piece of stick with
sharp bones of birds or fishes attached to it. Having previously
sketched with a piece of charcoal the pattern intended to be tattooed,
he dips the points of the sharp bones int