consequently, of their bravery. Among the Quebec Inuits, it was a tradition to get a special kind of tattoo on their shoulders whenever they killed a bowhead whale or a white male.

Women belonging to the Netsilik group of Inuits would get tattoos done on their skin, as it was believed necessary to gain entry into the other world after death. Women belonging to other Inuit groups would get lines tattooed on their chin, as an indication of the group they belonged to. It is believed that homosexual males also had similar tattoos on their chin, and they were required to wear women's clothes and do the daily chores that a woman did.

The Inuits also believed that tattooing was a form of worship, which would appease their gods, who would help them in dealing with the harsh climatic conditions in the areas where they were usually located. It was also believed that tattooing would call upon spiritual entities to visit the material world, and would thus act as a means for attracting spiritual forces into the human body.

Egyptians: Traditionally, the Egyptians have placed a lot of emphasis on the divine power. The reasons for tattooing in Egypt in ancient times also related to the divine and mystic powers. It was believed that tattooing one's skin would help them to connect with the Supreme Being. Tattooing was undertaken as a form of worship or tribute to a certain god or goddess. In some cases, tattooing was done to act as a talisman and provide protection to the person from diseases and evil.

Greeks: In early Greek culture, tattooing was considered to be only for barbarians, and not for the cultured society. Slaves and criminals were tattooed in those days, for the purpose of identification. References in literature have been found to the effect that tattooing was used as a form of punishment among the Greeks in the olden days.

Romans: Like the Greeks, the Romans also used tattooing to mark slaves and criminals. References in literature have been found to suggest the use of tattooing for punishment among Romans, a practice similar to the Greeks. Another purpose for which the Romans used tattooing was to mark soldiers. The Roman army included a large number of mercenaries, who were tattooed, so that they could be easily identified if they ran away.

Japanese: In 17^th century Japan, outcasts and criminals were tattooed for the purpose of identification. Generally, the marks used for tattooing in these cases would be uniform. In case of outcasts, a cross would be tattooed on the inner forearm, or a straight line on the upper part of the arm or the outer forearm. In case of criminals, the tattoos would depict the place where the crime was committed. Only people who had committed heinous crimes were tattooed by the Japanese. Tattooing was considered as a very severe form of punishment by the Japanese, and people who had been tattooed would be ostracized by their family, friends and the society.

In the 18^th century in Japan, gangs used tattooing to mark their members. It was believed that since tattooing was a painful process, a person who was ready to undergo this pain would serve the gang forever.

Apart from this, classical Japanese tattoo designs used by ordinary people included designs representing legendary heroes as well as religious symbols. Other designs commonly found in Japanese tattoos are clouds, waves, lightning bolts, animals and flowers. Traditional Japanese tattoos would consist of a single, large design on the back, which would extend into the arms, legs or chest of the person.

Samoans: The inhabitants of the Samoan Islands, the Samoans, have been noted to tattoo designs all over their body, so much so that it would appear from afar like clothes, though most part of their body would be bare. Tattoing has always been a highly respected and sacred practice for the Samoans, and it was never banned here, as it was in several other parts of the world. The Samoans believed that tattooing conveyed the transition of a male from adolescence to maturity. If a man was not tattooed, he would be treated as an immature boy, who was not allowed to speak in the presence of adults. Such a person was allowed to perform only menial chores, and he was not allowed to marry.