considered as a symbol of manhood among all classes, young men were considered ''unripe'' or '' cooked'' and certainly not ready for marriage until they had been tattooed. the process was usually carried out while they were in their teens. It was believed that tattoos gained potency in proportion to complete a set of leg tattoos. The tattoo artist first drew the patterns freehand with a brush or imprinted them with a tattoo stamp. Using special needle with longitudinal grooves to hold the pigment. He pricked the designs below the surface of the skin. Border patterns were applied with a sharp serrated plate resembling a comb. The recipe for pigment included burnt animal fat, soot or lamp-black mixed with the bile from a pig, a bear or a bull, with water added to achieve the correct consistency. Opium was administered to ease the pain inflicted during the tattooing pprocess. Not all men endured the suffering. and some gave up before the process was finished.