266 SOME TKIBAL CUSTOMS IN THEIR RELATION TO MEDICINE AND MORALS 



to the Arab Rabat). A like custom is mentioned by Boycl-Alexander among tlie Al)oboa 

 tribe; he says: " The young boys are circumcised and for a period wear a peculiar loin cloth 

 consisting of a fringe of grass. This is the only time I have seen this custom (circumcision) 

 practised among the Congo tribes." I imagine here again it is also a Mohammedan 

 introduction. 



Tribal Cosmetic Operations 



These operations hold as a rule the same religo-sexual significance as circumcision 

 and face-scarring do among the Mohammedan Arabs. 

 Extraction and iiuitikition of tet:'tli (Plate XX.) 



By far the most important of their tribal cosmetic operations is the extraction and 

 mutilation of teeth. A custom which seems to be absolutely universal amongst pagan 

 people throughout the length and breadth of Central Africa, " So universal that a person 

 who has his teeth is considered ugly." (Livingstone.) 



The teeth implicated are the incisors, upper, lower, or both, sometimes also the 

 canines. The operation is performed at puberty (14-16), the males always, and the 

 females usually (according to custom) being submitted to it. 



It is an "extraction" and not a " breaking-off " as has been erroneously described 

 by Schweinfurth,^ Livingstone and others. 



A gouge (specially constructed) or simply a spear head or knife blade being inserted 

 between the middle incisors and levered from side to side until these two teeth are 

 loose enough to be prised out, after which the adjacent ones (if required) are readily 

 freed in like manner and removed between the finger and thumb. 



The pointiui/ and paring of teeth, among those who do not extract them, is carried 

 out by the local "expert" (the nearest approach to a savage dentist), who roughly chips 

 the teeth into the required shape with a small chisel (a stone acting as mallet) ; they 

 are then fined down and smoothed by rubbing the surface with a hard stone [vide 

 Figs. 74 and 76.) 



Separating teeth (an uncommon practice) is accomplished by inserting pegs of wood 

 of gradually increasing size between them until the required parting has been reached. 

 On asking the reason why the Gours extracted teeth which God had given them to bite 

 and eat with, one made answer with this counter question, "Why do you remove the 

 beard and hair that God has given you and denied to us." Livingstone, on asking the 

 same question of the Ba-to-ka people, received the answer that they "wished to look 

 like oxen and not like zebras." More relevant reasons are advanced, however, as: — 

 Tooth 1. To distinguish tribe from tribe. 



th 'e so s for ^' ^^ ^ ^'8'^ ^^ ^^^^ state of manhood and womanhood, 



its practise 3. Simply as an ornamentation. 



4. To make a distinction between men and animals, especially monkeys. 



Note. — The Dinkas and Shilluks say teeth extraction is necessary to the pronunciation 

 of their language, whilst the Nubas add a further reason in that those very sick oi' 

 suffering from lock-jaw (a common disease among them) may be more easily fed. 



The Zandeh give strange reasons for the sharpening of their teeth : — 



1. That they may look animal and ferocious. 



2. As ornament and for customs sake alone. 



3. To bite and tear meat more effectually. 



4. To show their cannibal proclivities. 



> "One will hardly fail to notice among all the negro people who dwell in the plains of the tipper Nile 

 a singular want of the lower incisor teeth which in early life are always broken off." Schwciufurth. 



