CUSTOMS RELATING TO THE TEETH AMONG DIFFERENT PRIMITIVE PEOPLES.
Joseph Murphy, in his book, _A Natural History of the Human Teeth_,[32]
says that the natives of Hindostan, especially the Brahmins or priests
of Brahma, take extreme care of their teeth. Every morning they rub
them for about an hour with a small twig of the fig tree, at the same
time that, turned toward the rising sun, they recite their prayers
and invoke Heaven’s blessing on themselves and their families. As
this custom is prescribed in the most ancient codes and religious
writings of India, it reverts, without doubt, to the remotest ages,
and, therefore, demonstrates the great importance that this people,
and particularly the Brahmin caste, has ever attributed to beauty and
cleanliness of the teeth. Murphy affirms that the Brahmins, in general,
have magnificent teeth; and that this depends, certainly in great part,
on the assiduous and scrupulous care that they take of them.
From the writings of their ancient poets one also deduces in what high
esteem the people of India held beautiful teeth, considering them one
of the principal ornaments of the face. The lover, says Murphy, never
neglected, in enumerating the beauties of his lady-love, to praise the
whiteness and regularity of her teeth.
Among some of the people of India, when the second dentition is
completed, it is customary to separate the teeth one from the other
with a file; we do not know, however, whether this is done as an
embellishment or with some other object—perhaps, as suggested by Joseph
Linderer,[33] to prevent caries.
Anyhow, this and other customs in vogue in various parts of India and
in many islands of Oceanica demonstrate that these peoples attribute
great importance to the teeth.
The substituting of gold teeth for those missing has been in use in
Java from exceedingly remote times.[34]
Dyeing the teeth black is considered a great embellishment among many
races of Asia and Oceanica; this operation is sometimes preceded by
another, viz., the filling up of the interdental spaces very cleverly
with gold leaf.[35]
In Sumatra and the neighboring islands many women file their teeth down
to the gums; others file them into points; or partially remove the
enamel so as to render it easier to apply the black dye; this being
held to be the height of elegance. Men of high rank and condition dye
their upper teeth black and cover the lower ones with fine gold plates,
which in a full light produces what they consider a fine contrast. The
natives of other islands gild the upper central incisors and dye the
others black.[36]
In Japan, the married women may easily be distinguished from the others
by their black and shining teeth. The coloring preparation they use
to blacken the teeth is composed of urine, raspings of iron, and a
substance called _saki_. This mixture has a most unpleasant odor, and
if applied on the skin acts as a caustic. Its action on the teeth is
so powerful that they do not regain their whiteness even after a lapse
of years. In applying this substance, and also for some time after,
the women take care to preserve their gums and lips from its effects,
as it would otherwise cause them to assume a dark blue tint.[37] The
inhabitants of the Pelew Islands make use of the wild thistle and
shell chalk to blacken the teeth. It is also the custom to blacken the
teeth among the inhabitants of Tonkin and Siam, the women of the Maria
Islands, and the single ladies of Java.
Some of the peoples of Eastern India plane their teeth down to an even
level; and from the habit of masticating areca nuts mixed with chalk
and other substances, their lips and teeth are dyed red. At Macassar
the natives have their teeth dyed red; they also substitute missing
teeth by artificial ones made of gold, silver, or tombac.[38]
Negroes, especially those of Abyssinia, very often file their incisors
into points to resemble the form of the canines; this is in order to
give themselves an air of greater ferocity.
Murphy relates that the inhabitants of one of the islands of the
Sound make an incision in the upper lip in a parallel line with the
mouth, and large enough to allow the tongue to pass. After the margins
have healed they have a great resemblance to the lips. This kind of
artificial mouth is made to support a shell, carved in such a manner as
to produce the effect of a row of teeth.
The natives of the Sandwich Islands sacrifice their front teeth to
conciliate the favor of their god Eatoa.[39]
Among the natives of New South Wales, it is the custom when a youth
reaches virility to knock out his front teeth with a stone; this
operation being carried out by the _kuradshis_ or wizards.
The savages of Peru are also in the habit of making the front teeth
fall out; the reason of the custom is that the space thus made is
regarded by them as an embellishment.[40]