"Paris, Royal Academy of Medicine 1815" "There is nothing more famous in natural history than the "Hottentot apron."" "Yet nothing has been the object of such intense dispute." "Some long denied it existed, while others claimed it was mere art or whimsy." "And among those who saw it as a natural adjustment, each had his own opinion about which organ parts it developed." "But these doubts must yield to positive fact." "I have the honour of presenting to the Academy the genitals of this woman," "prepared so as to leave no doubt about the apron." "I pray you, pass it around." "The outer lips intersect a four-inch-long oval from which extends a semi-cylindrical protuberance one and a half inches long and half an inch thick, the lower extremity of which widens, branches out, and opens to constitute two wrinkled fleshy petals" "about two and a half inches long and one inch wide." "These two appendages form a heart shape with long and narrow lobes comprising, at the centre, the vulval opening." "It is obvious to anyone comparing these genitals with those of European women, that the two fleshy lobes forming the apron" "consist at the top of the prepuce and labia minora, while for their remaining length are but an extension of the labia minora." "The inner vulva and womb reveal nothing unusual." "The "Bushman's veil"" "is not a particular trait establishing a correlation between women and apes." "As the labia minora of the latter are in general inconspicuous." "Yet one cannot say the same of the fatty tissue forming the female Bushman's huge buttocks which appear natural and common to the entire nation." "They distinctly resemble those of female mandrills and baboons, which at a certain point in their life show considerable growth." "Our closer study of the head offers greater scope for distinction." "It's the yardstick for classifying nations." "And in this respect, our female Bushman offers remarkable and unusual differences." "Her bony head and facial structure show a striking combination of Negro and Kalmuk traits." "As we know, the Negro has a prominent snout, with the face and skull compressed on the sides." "The Kalmuk has a flat snout and broad face." "Our Bushman has a more prominent snout than the Negro, a broader face than the Kalmuk, and the nasal bone smaller than both." "And in this latter respect," "I have never seen a head which more resembles the ape." "What has been hereto noted and must be repeated, in view of the errors propagated by recent works, is that neither the Gallas, nor the Bushman, nor any Negro race gave birth to the people who gave rise to the civilization" "of ancient Egypt from whom it may be said that the whole world inherited the principles of law, science and even religion." "I present this mummy head so the Academy may compare it to that of Europeans," "Negroes and Hottentots." "If you would." "Today, as we distinguish race according to the skull and having in our possession so many Egyptian mummies" "it is easily proven that whatever their complexion they belonged to the same race of man as we." "Their skull and brain were as voluminous." "In a word, they were no exception to the cruel law that seems to impose eternal inferiority upon races with depressed and compressed skulls." "London, June 1810" "Saartjie, that was fantastic." "Really excellent." "You hear?" "Let's go, one more time." "Soon all of London will want to see our Venus." "Alexander, you should negotiate a bigger theatre." "Quit bookkeeping, let's drink." "Someone has to keep a level head." "Stop playing with your food and eat." "You're getting too thin." "Goodnight." "Goodnight." "We should do likewise, if we want to keep up this pace." "Perfect." " Goodnight." " Sleep well." "I'm sleeping." "I just want to talk." "I'm tired." "Open up, just to talk." "Saartjie, come on, open." "Saartjie!" "Where are you?" "Saartjie?" "You're drinking!" "We have to go to work, hurry." "Go and get dressed." "Well?" "What are you sulking about now?" "I'm tired." "The show isn't easy." "It isn't what you promised." "I'm not a harlot." "No one thinks that." "Everyone knows you're not a harlot." "How long have we been in this together?" "Don't you realize how close we are to our goal?" "Put that down." "What'd you have done in Cape Town?" "What would you be now?" "You'd have been a servant all your life and you know it." "How could you think I'd wish you harm?" "You were there when Anna gave birth to our children." "You gave them your milk!" "You're part of the family." "I'd never hurt you." "Never!" "I'd never have attempted this if I didn't have total trust in you." "Look." "You're famous!" "London's raving about you." "I went into debt to make this journey." "I left my farm, my wife and children behind." "All because I believe in you." "They can look, but not touch." "No, no." "It doesn't work that way." "They have to touch you." "Feeling is believing." "To make sure you're not just a stuffed cushion." "You disappoint me." "I thought you were more clever." "I've never been clever." "I'm an idiot." "No, you're not." "You're far from stupid." "You're famous and soon you'll be free." "You know what that means?" "We can return to Cape Town, with our heads high and pockets full." "You'll do whatever you want." "Free!" "Money is freedom." "You'll buy your own little farm." ""Saartjie's farm."" "You'll have your own cattle." "And the men will be lining up to marry you." "Come now." "Let me tell you something." "You'll be... a good wife, and most of all, a wonderful mother." "You hear?" "We have to seize this opportunity with both hands." "Grasp and profit by it." "We have to go to work, so get dressed." "One little arm... and the other." "That's right." "In a daze again!" "Put that down." "Give me your hand." "Come here." "I have something to show you." "Something nice." "You've done a good job of late." "It merits a little recompense." "I've hired these boys for you, to serve you..." "These boys know the city." "So if you want to do something, to go for a stroll, or a tea, to go sit in the park, or even to ride in a carriage, whatever you like!" "Tell the boys and they'll take care of it." "We brought a few surprises." "Like to see?" "What is this?" "Let's see..." "For you." "You don't like it?" "Fine." "Let's open the big box." "Now what's inside?" "A hat!" "It's a hat, look." "A real lady's hat." "Saartjie, how pretty!" "Dimwits!" "Go on, open it." "How soft..." "Put them on." "You're the one showing that fat Negro girl?" "She's got talent too." "So, you speak Afrikaans?" "Saartjie, he speaks Afrikaans." "A little." "I showed my bears over there." "Folks were impressed." "No bears in your country." "No, no bears." "I even stayed longer than planned." "Made a lot of money." "Nice country." "Yes, nice country." "To your health." "Drink with me Saartjie." "Cheers, Saartjie." "Saartjie, this is Réaux." "That was great." "You hear?" "Keep it up, it was wonderful!" "And it's signed: "An Englishman."" "It's a disgrace!" "A tissue of lies." "Nonsense!" "With a clear conscience, he'd have at least signed." ""An Englishman?" What does that mean?" "That he's better than me?" "He can't spout such absurdities without consequence." "What can you do?" "Don't forget, here, they have freedom of speech." "You can't stem rumour." "It's proof of our success." "The nature of rumour is to spread, it's unstoppable." "At least they're talking about us." "But they're lying." "About me, not you." "Saartjie is not a slave!" " Something wrong?" " Nothing." "Just show more enthusiasm!" "You hear?" "They hurt me." " Come now..." " Don't let them." "That's enough." "Control yourself." "They're here to have fun." "This is a foreign land." "We can't afford the slightest error." "Success always attracts birds of ill omen." "What are you doing?" "I've had enough of your whims." "It's the last time, you hear?" "Attack them, attack." "Grab them." "Attack!" "What's got into you?" "What the hell are you playing at?" "Fend them off!" "What's got into you?" "What's your game?" "You've been drinking?" "I'll teach you." "Dirty Negroes, in league against me!" "Go to hell!" "As for you, you fat Negress!" "Bloody hell!" "You stupid Negress!" "Are you mad?" "Are you out to shame me?" "Have you lost your mind?" "Shaming me before the whole of London!" "Never again!" "What's your game?" "Think you're clever?" "Want to ruin everything?" "Don't you see others resent our success?" "No, you have to show off." "You said more heart..." "I didn't ask you to sing!" "They come to admire your backside." "A fat healthy arse they can touch." "You're human, like they are." "Your body enthrals them, you should be proud." "You said I could sing and dance, but instead I'm in a cage, grunting like an animal." "They pinch me, it's always the same." " I don't want..." " But it's only a game!" "You and I, we play like children." "I want beauty!" "Beauty?" "Meaning?" "You want to play Ophelia too?" "Our show is beautiful." "We give pleasure to those poor English folk who come to dream." "Understand?" "We give them a taste of the wild." "Isn't that beautiful?" "I no longer want the cage." "What's wrong with it?" "Why don't you go in the cage?" "Why not!" "Great idea!" "Let's try it." "You push me into the cage," "I break free and punish you with the stick." "I like this idea." "Well I don't." "That's enough." "We came here to make money." "And we're making lots." "And we'll make more if you obey!" "What's wrong with you?" "Wake up!" "Is it money you want?" "Here's money, help yourself!" "Take all you want!" "I'm sick of your tantrums!" "Let me show you." "Know what this is?" "A letter from the courts." "The police, they want to put us in prison." "And you too." "Saartjie, it's times like these that reveal true friends." "Come here, sit down." "Can I count on you?" "The truth!" "The truth, Saartjie!" "Over here!" "To drink!" "It works well enough." "But I don't trust her." " Why not?" " She's a trollop." "A trollop?" " Trollop!" " He says you're a trollop!" "She's already tattooed like a sailor." "A sea monster!" "As long as Saartjie has her bottle, she's harmless." "A bottle and she's happy." "They're jealous of me." "That an Afrikaner can make good in their country." "Even my partner." "They dragged my name in the mud." "But I won in court!" "Yes, I won." "Me..." "I'm not like that." "If she really has what you say between her legs, that's worth thinking about." "Patience." "Everything is in order." "And you will see all you want to see." "All?" "All." "I'll show you." "They dragged my name in the mud." "Saartjie..." "We'll continue our journey with my friend Réaux." "He paid us well to see." "So be a nice girl, if you would..." "Is she baptized?" "No." "Paris, April 181 5" "Have no fear, he's in control!" "It'll make you fertile!" "So come closer!" "It's not horse shit, it's for real!" "Thank you, ladies and gents!" "No." "Don't be ashamed." "It's you." "It's your body." "God must have made you that way to teach men something." "You should be proud of it." "You are of those to whom nudity has been granted like a gift." "Naked, you are closest to your true self." "You must accept that, Saartjie." "You are so beautiful." "Come, let me look at you." "Let me look, Saartjie." "Don't be ashamed." "Let me look at you." "I know exactly what to do, Saartjie." "If you listen to me" "I will raise you to the highest spheres of society." "Have no fear." "Have no fear, Saartjie." "You are so beautiful." "Bravo, my dear Géraldine!" "Bravo for that hymn to Paris." "What a voice, what grace and beauty!" "So, in your honour, and that of the whole troupe," "I wished to celebrate, in my own way, the play's wonderful success." "Dear friends, please join me tonight in warmly welcoming our guest, the Hottentot Venus!" "Ladies and gentlemen." "May I present, Master Réaux, famed animal tamer, who defeated such wild beasts as bears, tigers and even lions!" "And who accomplished the extraordinary feat of making this wild Hottentot into an obedient young lady." "I bring you the show-stopping" "Hottentot Venus!" "Ladies and gents, please remain calm!" "Easy does it, easy." "Easy..." "Stay still, head down..." "Easy does it..." "Ladies and gents, stay calm." "Don't worry." "Down!" "Down!" "Turn, so we can admire your pretty little rump." "Come, show us!" "On the ground!" "On the ground!" "Ladies and gents, have you ever seen such grace, such beauty and voluptuousness, such sensuality?" "Turn, turn..." "Come on, turn!" "Easy does it." "Miss, please be seated." "Easy does it..." "Now, back..." "Back up!" "Easy does it." "Back you go..." "Ladies and gentlemen, a volunteer, a daring man or woman!" "A brave man or woman!" "An adventurer, an adventuress!" "Come!" "Come, Captain!" "Your mount is waiting." "Easy..." "Have no fear, Captain." "Come closer, easy does it." "In the saddle, have no fear." "Now Captain, gallop!" "At a gallop, Captain!" "Gallop, gallop!" "Bravo, Captain!" "Thank you, Captain, bravo!" "Thank you." "Now up..." "Up!" "Back..." "Up you go." "Up you go, nice and slow..." "Easy does it!" "Ladies, please, stay calm." "Now bow." "Salute the ladies and gents, bow!" "Ladies and gentlemen, the Hottentot Venus!" "Easy..." "Easy does it." "Ladies and gentlemen, thanks to skilful taming, our young lady, our black Venus, has acquired a musical ear so fine that I defy anyone here present to equal it." "Sir, she has what we call perfect pitch!" "Gentlemen, please." "The young lady is sensitive." "Don't laugh, it may hurt her." "She has what's called perfect pitch." "Ladies and gents, for this, I shall unchain her." "No, she leaps all over!" "Easy, easy..." "That's it, nice and easy."