Allusion

 "His face was profoundly wrinkled and black, like a mask of obsidian."( 110)

[Image]

An obsidian rock is essentially hard volcanic rock or glass, and produced from this material was usually an ornate burial mask modled after one of the aztec's gods. Also known as the Death Mask, the meaning in reference to the novel, refers to the indian's decrepit appearance. Huxley implies that this man looks more dead than alive. His face looks as old as stone and meant to be buried. Lenina, with the conditioning of her culture, only knew preserved elderly. And this man would have overdosed on soma long ago, like elderly in london.  The indian was far older. So, instead of the dying young with his looks and dignity, the man is now cursed to embody the Mask of Obsidian, looking like death itself.