One hundred and twenty miles off the
frozen northwest coast of Alaska we find a speck of windswept rock
called St. Lawrence Island. Temperatures can plunge half way to Absolute
Zero and Asiatic Eskimo tribesmen can live past 100. Alice, the
tattoo shaman, is that nearly that old. But can she see well enough to wield that
bone needle? And if Thomas is willing, will she give him what he’s
looking for? Will she consent to thread the strand of reindeer sinew
through his skin -- in what would most certainly be the last most
authentic tattoo on this planet?
Inhabitants of St. Lawrence Island circa 1816, show
facial tattoos.
Artist, Louis Choris of the Otto von Kotzebue Expedition (1815-1818)
Click picture for larger image
