Whistling and Dwarves

I have arrived in Togo! I'm blessed to have another run on the Africa Mercy, nursing those assigned to my care. I was going to write about the trip here and culture shock, but a conversation on the wards today trumped that.

Our charge nurse for the evening was merrily whistling a tune, and she stopped short and asked one of the local day workers (our translators, et al.) if whistling is considered rude in Togo. She said that in Sierra Leone, in the town where she lived inland, it was considered very rude for a woman to whistle and that only men were allowed to. It is so rude the women get beaten for it.

The day worker smiled and said, "No, it just means that you're happy." But then his smile faded and he added, "unless it's past 6 o'clock".

Charge nurse; "What happens after 6 o'clock?"

Day worker; "You will find yourself in a forest."

At this point i'm confused so I ask "If you whistle, does that mean you're telling people you're lost and need some help?"

With a puzzled look, he tells us, "No, the dwarves will take you away. You will find yourself in a forest unable to get out. You don't whistle after 6. But I'm from Ghana, maybe that isn't the same here." He motions to another translator, from Togo, and repeats the scenario to him in rapid-fire French. He gets a definite nod and answer and they both turn to us and say that yes, whistling after 6 o'clock pm definitely will call to the dwarves.

So our charge nurse smiles and asks them, "So should I not whistle then after 6?"

Day worker, with a laugh, "Of course you are OK, you're on a ship!"