Tattooing companions transformed into lizard and crow

Overview

Two young men agree to tattoo one another. The first carefully marks his companion’s body, including his face, and rubs soot into the cuts. When his turn comes, the already tattooed man instead smears his friend all over with greasy soot. During their ensuing quarrel, the carefully tattooed man becomes a large lizard and hides in the grass, while the blackened man becomes a crow and flies above the village. The identities follow the marks each receives, not who first performs the work.

Cole credits A. E. Jenks with the first recording and treats the account as an origin story for both animals. Her accompanying generalization about tattooing and social status belongs to the historical editorial commentary, not a timeless description of all Igorot communities. The men are described as friends, with no stated blood relationship, and neither receives a personal name.

Origins & earliest records

Philippines; Igorot accounts as grouped by Cole

Records & interpretation

Complete relevant story, collection preface, regional introduction and attached notes directly read.

Selected bibliography

Documented works and useful reading. This is not a list of every appearance.

1. 01

   Philippine Folk Tales

   Mabel Cook Cole, compiler and annotator · 1916

   The Tattooed Men, pp. 115–116 and notes 17–19

Family & connections

A source-supported family tree or inspiration record has not yet been compiled for this profile. Related reading below indicates a connection in subject matter, not a proven lineage or creative influence.

Primary records and illustrations

References

Sources supporting this profile. Linked pages have their own scope and editorial standards.

1. Historical collected narrative and editorial notesCole, Philippine Folk Tales (1916), The Tattooed Men, pp. 115–116 and notes 17–19Research access: 2026-10-05

Image credits

A sourced illustration has not yet been added. This gap is included in the coverage record.