SC - Foot/Mouth Insertion- :-)

[LrdRas at aol.com]

In a message dated 97-11-15 07:07:26 EST, you write:

<< Do you have documentation for this practice? >>

According to oral tradition the practice of inserting one's feet into one's
mouth extends back to "ancient" times when a certain camel driver by the name
of Bigfutas ibn Bigmowthas after a particular rousing evening of inhaling the
smoke of burning poppy resins. Bigfutus was seen by many witnesses to try the
feat of placing his feet in his father's mouth. Caravan people being the
party type quickly emmulated this behaviour and due  to a rapidly decreasing
pool of volunteer mouths in which to stick one's feet, the custom of using
one's own mouth repidly superceeded the original practice of using other
mouths.

 <<Is it properly Period (pre-16th Western culture), >>

After the acquisition of Spain by the Moors. feet insertion rapidly spread
throughout the barbarous lands of Europe in a weak attempt to assimilate the
more civilized aspects of Middle Eastern culture as is shown in numerouis
extant accounts of the deeds and actions of those living outside the sphere
of direct Moorish influence.

<<or is it soething imported from the Moslem lands? >>

It is thought by many that this custom originated in Persia. However, as
noted above the probable beginning of the practice of feet into mouth
insertion is rooted in customs of the Bedouin tribes. Sadly, documentation is
lacking which could definitively pin point the source of this widespread
custom.
 
<<How are the feet prepared before insertion? >>

The original instructions are translated as > "Open mouth; insert foot".
Beyond that the manner of preparing feet for the act of foot insertion is
abitrary and varies according to one's social class, intelligence, culture
and oral traditions. 

 I would point out that the removal of sand and grit from the feet through
ritual washing is recommended by most authorities and the optional
preliminary application of rosewater is suggested. As a side line, there are
a few who also suggest the use of various toe jams but for obvious reasons
this particuler practice is not encouraged by most experts.

:-)

al-Sayyid Ras al Zib

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