“ Probably the highest development of the custom among primitive peoples is in New Zealand, though it is also much practiced in various parts of the East Indian archipelago and in Polynesia. The tattooing of the natives in North and South America and in parts of the world other than those mentioned above is, as a rule, of simple character. In modern times and among higher races the Japanese have brought the art to its highest state of perfection. ”

“ As a primitive mode of ornamentation, tattooing is very widespread, its distribution as compared with the related custom of scarification being determined by the color of the skin. In general, light-skinned races tattoo, while dark-skinned peoples practice scarring. ”