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Hair style and finery Many women were tattooed on their faces, arms, legs and upper bodies. Tattooed women were considered beautiful, and were also believed to go the kingdom of the dead (i.e., heaven) after death, just like great hunters, and women who had borne many sons. Unsuccessful hunters and women without tattoos ended in the underworld after death. Tattooing was also linked with the production of children - tattooed women were believed to suffer less pain in childbirth. This belief may have been connected with the fact that the application of the tattoo, using needles and soot for the black colouring, was a painful experience. |