I'll wager Burton was tattooed, but have no direct evidence of it. How could an adventurous male with his attitude, experience and longevity not have a acquired at least one tattoo? If Burton was tattooed, then how many did he have, where, and what images or symbols did he wear? If he was not tattooed, then pray tell why not? In his writings, does he consider the tattooed male body of fellow explorers and soldiers appealing, or repulsive? Or does he never discuss it?

Islam forbids tattoos, although somebody who was tattooed before conversion would be ok. It may have been difficult for him to pass as a Muslim if he had been tattooed.

To the extent that scarification relates to tattooing, the parallel Forum dicussion on the topic of "Burton in Battles or Skirmishes" seems significant to the topic here -- "Burton's tattoos?" The question here now focuses on locations and patterns of perhaps deliberate wounds on Burton's body that resulted from his history of participation in Sufi religious rites. If the scars are the result of intentional wounds that resulted in meaningful symbolic patterns, then they qualify as "Burton's tattoos."