The Blue Tattoo: The Life of Olive Oatman by Margot Miffin, Book 23 of the “Women in the West” series, is an engrossing biography of a young girl torn from her family as they traveled west.
In 1851, as the Oatmans traveled along the Gila River in what is now New Mexico, Olive Oatman, 13, witnessed the horrors of her Morman family’s brutal massacre by the Yavapais, a Native American tribe. Olive and her younger sister, Mary Ann, were taken captive and endured a brutal trip, all on foot, finally arriving in Arizona where they lived as slaves for a year. They were later traded to the Mohaves. From all indications, the girls were treated well by the Mohaves, though Mary Ann, who always had suffered health problems, died after two years. From all accounts from Olive herself, she was treated kindly. She learned the tribal language, Mohave customs, and considered herself a member of the tribe.
One of the customs of the Mohaves was to tattoo the chin. The tattoo was a specific pattern, blue, and the recipient had to cooperate, lie very still and afterward not move the mouth for a period of time so as to not smudge or mar the markings. This ritual was not given to captives, rather it was celebrated by tribal members. Olive willingly endured this tattooing process.
Olive was 19 when she was ransomed back to white society. Being reunited with white people was a painful experience. She missed her Mohave family. The ways of civilization were strange, uncomfortable and restrictive. Although she became an instant celebrity, she was often seen as sad.
Much has been written about Olive Oatman, some in her own lifetime, often portraying her years with the Mohave as savage and cruel. These accounts are contrary to many of the documented facts as explained in The Blue Tatoo. Author Margot Miffin’s account of Olive’s story represents factual research and arguments. I appreciated learning facts supported by true accounts and resources. For a more likely and probably less sensational version of Olive Oatman’s story, I highly recommend The Blue Tattoo.