Before commencing the operation they mix the coloring liquid (before described, page 102) in a cocoa-nut shell. They then compel you to lie down upon the ground in such a position that the part of the body which is to be tattooed shall lie uppermost. After this, with a slender, flexible stick dipped in the liquid, they mark out upon the body the figures that are to be imprinted in the skin; then they dip the teeth of the tattooing instrument in the liquid, and by successive strokes, as above mentioned, prick it into the skin, till it is completed to their taste. During the operation you are surrounded by men, women, and children, all singing a kind of chorus or song adapted to the occasion; and if any complaint escapes you, from the severe treatment of the operators, (of whom there are generally two,) the whole company strikes up a louder strain, apparently as if rejoicing. The spirited wood cut accompanying this volume gives a very correct representation of this important ceremony. * * * * * After captain Barnard and Rollins escaped from the island, the natives would often ask of Holden and Nute where they thought _Peeter Inglish_ (their name for the captain) was;[10] they were answered, that he was on his passage to England. They would then say,-- Ah! Peeter Inglish taw borobeeto Inglish; Peeter Inglish yepee'lif tang ah nee mah'ree ah To'bee ah pahng-ul; Peeter Inglish mo'ree poo'ruk woar ah taht; Peeter Inglish tee'tree tee'tree mah'ree To'bee pee'pee pee'pee ah pahng-ul, pee'pee ah lego', pee'pee ah mullebah'dee; shaik, man Inglish yepee'lif tuhmah'; mah'ree ah To'bee zah so zah tee'tree Yarris, waurwa ah Inglish cher prow tay beeto woar Inglish. Ah! the captain will never get to England; the captain was a thief; he had not given To'bee man any iron, and he would die at sea; the captain talked, and talked with To'bee men, (that they should have) much iron, great many clothes, and much brass; for shame! Englishmen (are) all thieves and bad men; To'bee men (are) very angry; (we) will speak to God, and he will make the ship founder at sea, and the captain never will arrive in England. Whenever Holden or Nute expressed a wish to go to England, the natives would say to them,-- Gur zah beeto Inglish bah? Taw ah muk'kah woar Inglish; gur zah beeto Inglish, gur mo'ree poo'ruk; mah'ree Inglish muk'kah ketch'ee etch'ee, omah ah yahpuk gur mum'mee tee'dee ah To'bee, yevvers mah'ree To'bee yissung ah mukkah. What do you (wish to) go to England for? There is nothing to eat in England; if you go to England you will die; Englishmen eat rats and snails and filth; if you stay in To'bee you will live; To'bee men have very good (food) to eat. _Dialogue between Horace Holden and his master Pahrahbooah._