Strange sources
Not all food history is straightforward. We bring our food into so many parts of our daily life, that there are always surprises in store. Just now, in my email, was one such surprise. I’ll paste it after this post, for your delight and delectation.
What’s so curious about this? With chain letters and with begging letters and with letters such as the one below, part of the reason they fool some people is because they persuade. In the sort of letter I received just now, a big commodity – along with important-sounding titles – is chosen to reassure the receiver and to make them feel that the letter is genuine. The commodities used, whether oil, coffee or cocoa are ones that are reassuring and solid. If I made a collection of them, I could start a study of the social value of the export trade.
I’m not going to, because it’s just a tad modern for my personal historical tastes. It’s interesting to see, though, that foodstuffs are used in con games. It’s a totally crucial (in a minor way) demonstration of what’s important to use and why. The importance shows a lot about where we come from, because the sort of rock-solid reassurance that makes cocoa a good element in this particular con game comes from its past.
I may make some hot cocoa in honour of Miss Konan Crystal and her unintended appreciation of food history. I won’t be telling her that, though, or replying to her email. There are some food history sources that should be kept very much at a distance.
Hello Dear Chosen one,
Please excuse me for all the inconveniences my mail could cause you. I saw your profile and have the interest to contact you. Please even if we never knew before, I believe firmly that on the basis of the right of humanitarian assistance that a real confidence and love can arise from our communication and also a real partnership between us.
I am Miss Konan Crystal, the legitimate daughter of the Director of cocoa export here murdered by the rebel here because of the political crisis going on here since four years ago.
My father had deposited a consignment with a security company here containing the sum of $9.000, 000 USD (Nine million dollars USD) to allow him to conceive a project of investment at the end of his mandate here.
Regrettably the fate decided on it otherwise.
Today my major concern is to move out this sum outside here. Given that I am the only child and I have seriously suffered from the riggings and the harassments on behalf of the political opponents of my Father.
It is in this prospect that I contact you to please help me to move this heritage from the security company to your country.
Because of the political war and the hostilities in this country I seriously wish to leave from here and live the rest of my life in a more peaceful and politically more stable and quiet country. It is what justifies this demand.
I shall voluntarily agree on a good and appropriate percentage of this money as your compensation for your assistant as for what precedes.
I would like to count on your human, virtuous and professional qualities.
I look forward to receive your urgent responds.
Thanks for your care.
Yours sincerely,
Miss Konan Crystal
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