Tattoo History - Prince Giolo

The pirate and discoverer William Dampier discovered a tribe of natives with tataus on the island of Meangis between Sumatra and Sri Lanka in 1691. He was especially taken by a dignified chieftain who carried the name Prince Giolo (also: Jeoly). In his records Dampier described Giolo as follows:

"He was painted all down the breast, between his shoulders behind; on his thighs before; and in the form of several broad rings, or bracelets, round his arms and legs. I cannot liken the drawings to any figure of animals, or the like, but they were very curious, full of great variety of lines, flourishes, checkered work, etc.keeping a very graceful proportion, and appearing very artificial, even to wonder, especially that upon and between his shoulder blades. By the account he gave me of the manner of doing it, I understand that the painting was done in the same manner, as the Jerusalem Cross is made in men?s arms, by pricking the skin, and rubbing in a pigment. But whereas (gun) powder is used in making the Jerusalem Cross, they at Meangis use the gum of a tree beaten to a powder called in English, Dammer, which is used instead of pitch in many parts of India. He told me that most of the men and women of the island were thus painted, and also that they all had ear rings made of gold, and gold shackles about their legs and arms." (William Dampier, Giolo, A New Voyage Round The World, 1697)

Dampier bought Prince Giolo against his will from his tribe and lured him to England with the promise the make him rich and to bring him back home afterwards. Dampier arrived in London in 1691 and the public first believed it was just a hoax, a slave was just painted with color. When Dampier wanted to proof that the body art very well resulted by pricking the skin Giolo, who received the name "Giolo, The Famous Painted Prince" from Dampier, sickened with pox and died far away from his home.

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