The lines on the face are formed by dextrously running an awl under the cuticle and then drawing a cord, dipped in charcoal and water, through the canal thus formed.

The punctures on the body are formed by needles of various sizes set in a frame.

A number of hawk bells attached to this frame serve by their noise to cover the suppressed groans of the sufferer and, probably for the same reason, the process is accompanied with singing.

An indelible stain is produced by rubbing a little finely-powdered willow-charcoal into the punctures.

A half-breed whose arm I amputated declared that tattooing was not only the most painful operation of the two but rendered infinitely more difficult to bear by its tediousness having lasted in his case three days.
A Cree woman at certain periods is laid under considerable restraint.
They are far however from carrying matters to the extremities mentioned by Hearne in his description of the Chipewyans, or Northern Indians.