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False Teeth

False Teeth

July 13, 2008 by janikowski

Leopold Janikowski wrote an article about the Island of Fernando Po for the Bulletin of the French Geographical Society in 1886 and describes his encounters with the native Bubis.

“One day, the natives who had become familiar with our presence came to examine us at their ease. They counted our fingers to see if our hands were made like theirs. So I had the idea of showing them my false teeth: there was general panic. Women and children fled screaming. The men, stunned at first, began to pull their own teeth, to be like me. After fruitless efforts, it was decided that I was a sorcerer, who could absorb strong poisons without fear, but who was unable to eat meat. I had to carefully explain the mystery of my teeth; they persisted in their doubt and asked us if we were really white like the others or spirits.”

“Un jour, les indigènes familiarisés avec notre présence s’approchèrent pour nous examiner à leur aise. Ils comptèrent nos doigts, afin de constater si nos mains étaient conformées comme les leurs. Alors j’eus l’idée de leur exhiber mes fausses dents; ce fut une panique générale. Les femmes et les enfants prirent la fuite en criant. Les hommes, stupéfaits au début, se mirent à tirer leurs propres dents, pour faire comme moi. Après de vains efforts, il fut décidé que j’étais un grand sorcier, susceptible d’absorber sans crainte les violents poisons, mais incapable de manger de la viande. J’eus beau leur expliquer le mystère de ma denture; ils persistèrent dans le doute et nous demandèrent si nous étions bien réellement des blancs comme les autres ou des esprits.”

SOC. DE GÉOGR. – 4e TRIMESTRE 1886. VII.

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