268 SOME TRIBAL CrSTOMS IN THEIR RELATION TO MEDICINE AND MORALS 



These aclvauced reasons point the great difference in character between the Zandeh 

 and Gour. 



Methods 



employed Ntjain-nyaiH Idotli cvtractioii and mutilation 



by the 



Nyam-ny.im From the following notes it will be seen how confused are distinctions of tribe as 



marked by their dental operations. To describe each in some detail : — 



The Zandeh Nyam-nyam custom is to mutilate and not to extract teeth. Contact, 

 liowever, with the Gebelawi Nyam-nyam has given rise to frequent extractions of the lower 

 2 or 4 incisors, sometimes combined with pointing of the corresponding upper teeth 

 (Plate XX., iig. 1). The usual Zandeh custom is then to sharpen or point the four upper 

 incisors and the two central or all four lower incisors, according to various designs (ride 

 Plate XX., figs. 2, 3, 4). 



The Avungara (or Royal House) often leave their teeth entirely uninterfered with, or 

 may sliarpen or notch the two central upper incisors (vide Plate XX., figs. 5, 6, 7). 



The Amieuniba and Abangbinda sharpen the four upper or upper and lower incisors. 

 Both sexes of these tribes are similarly treated though the custom among the females is not 

 universal. 



The Gebelawi Nyam-nyam as a general rule remove the four (sometimes only two 

 central) lower incisors {cide Plate XX., figs. 8 and 9). In this they resemble the kindred 

 Gours. From contact with the Zandeh, however, they have acquired the custom of 

 sharpening and notching their teeth solely or in conjunction with extraction. 



Thus amongst the Bakka, for example (lide Plate XX., figs. 8, 1, 10, 5), I found: — 



1. Simple extraction of the four lower incisors. 



2. Extraction of the four lower combined with sharpening of the four upper incisors. 



3. Extraction of tlie four lower combined witli separation of tlie two upper central 



incisors. 



4. Notching of the two upper central incisors alone. 



5. Teeth quite undisturbed. 



This of course all points to a great confusion of custom. The Makrakka and Bagaro 

 again sometimes leave their teeth unaltered, sometimes they extract the lower incisors or 

 merely notch the upper central incisors {vide Plate XX., figs. 8, 6). The Mundu, Morro 

 and Avokia adhere nearly always simply to the removal of tlie four lower incisors. 



Goiir teeth extraction 

 Methods in 'j'l,y Gour tribes almost universally extract the four lower incisors. Sometimes they 



use among tlie . ' , • j i j i 



Qours remove the two lower canines at the same time or combine extractions ot the tour lower 



and two upper central incisors. [Vide Plate XX., figs. 8, 8a, 11, 12). The teeth removed 

 are perforated and hung on the Tok necklace already referred to {vide Plate XVIII., fig. 2). 

 It is not uncommon to find certain Gours and Nyam-nyam with complete sets of teeth, 

 scarred with " Shiluk " (Tribal Marks) and circumcised in evidence of their having been 

 formerly enslaved l)y Arabs. Among both these people, too, are men scarred with the tribal 

 markings of the Shilluks and Dinkas as the result of their capture during raids and 

 inter-tribal warfare. Little or no facial deformity results, as a rule, from the extraction of 

 teeth, though the unopposed incisors usually spread outwards, inwards, or forwards 

 {ride Plate XX., figs. 8, Ha). 



Scar taftcuinij 



The facial scars, for ornament solely, or to distinguish tribes, sub-tribes and families 

 so universal amongst tlie Arab races of the Sudan and negroid Sudanese who have come in 



