Tongs

Sika

Note: The following text is taken from a 19th-century collection catalog and, in its language and perspective, partially reflects colonial thought patterns. We present the text in its original version to make the collection's history transparent and promote a critical examination of the colonial legacy. Certain terms and formulations may be perceived as problematic today. A 2009 research project concluded that most descriptions are factually correct and still usable; only a few details were found to be inaccurate or incorrect. The results of this project were published in the following collection catalog: https://khm-wmw-tm-library.on.worldcat.org/oclc/1457155265

"674 - 675. Tongs - "Sika"
Two small iron pincers, as they are regularly used by men and women. Men use them to pull out the few hairs of their beards; women, to remove the hair from their underarms and pubic area. The men in the Indian Archipelago, who for the most part belong to the Malayan race, have no facial hair at all, and when a few bristle-like hairs appear on the upper lip or chin of a few individuals they are removed immediately by the men. Only on Java, where the Hindus have ruled for centuries and thus a more refined race has developed, does one meet men in the higher classes who have a weak but thick growth of hair on their upper lips. The same is true for the Acehnese on North Sumatra, where the original race has been mixed with Arabian blood. The pincers described here are, naturally, made of silver when they belong to rich people; they are an important toilet article, even for the poorest women, everywhere."

Translation of: Czurda, F. A. J. (1883). Catalog mit Erklärungen der Etnografischen Privatsammlung des Dr. F. A. J. Czurda in Postelberg (Böhmen). (p. 160-161). Wien, Wilhelm Braumüller