CHAPTER XXXV.
CLIMATE— PART I.
Value of reliable knowledge—A youth’s welcome to the tropics, and its
results Wet flannels and fever—Intemperance—Carelessness 'in
Europe Inquiry into the causes of sickness at the stations on the
Congo The cases of some of our invalids—The best positions to
build upon Captain Burton’s advice, “ Beef and beer ”—European
opinion of Africa compared to African opinion of Europe—Banza
Manteka: a missionary station—Dangers of low-lying localities—A
fatal “ pare ”—“ Observe the native custom ”—Sickness not all due
to miasma Number of deaths in our Expedition—Instances of how
the deaths occurred—Urgent advice to those who wish to thrive in
the tropics.
^Parfi r^HE c^earer I can make this chapter, the better
suited it will he for those individuals who, either now,
or perhaps in the course of the coming years, may
have intercourse with the regions under and near the
African Equator. There are so many wrong and utterly
absurd conceptions abroad regarding the African climate
that it is about time some one capable of speaking
from experience should utter his opinions bravely and
plainly; and as this book, as may be judged, has its
purpose, it would be incomplete without this chapter.
I t should be begun with a confession by the author
of having himself lived ignorantly for many years
in Africa, just as there are men along the African
coast, and up the oil rivers, the Niger and the Congo, cumate-
living at this minute in the densest ignorance of the
dangers around them, and of the simple philosophy of
living healthily and well amid these dangers. It
may b,e presumed, also, that if I live in Africa again, I
shall still be in ignorance of many things, despite my
accumulated experience of seventeen years. But, unlike
many others, I have an intense desire and strong
inclination to acquire as much of the wisdom of life as
a man’s naturally slow wit can acquire. In the same
measure as my past conduct, which has been a compound
of ignorance, indolence, indifference, and natural
ineptitude, has been more than frequently scourged
with the pains and the penalties due to my dulness,
rashness, and temerity, so shall I be in the future
a victim to punishments, unconsciously self-inflicted,
whenever I shall trespass against the silent and
unwritten laws of health.
The young European—
“ His mother’s joy, Ms father’s sole delight
That with much cost, yet with more care was bred,”
sighing after adventure, volunteers his services, and
sails hopefully to the Congo. He is evidently in
spléndid health on his arrival, but what to do with
that priceless blessing, which has been, if possible,
béttered by the long sea voyage, he knows no more
than (if the Darwinian theory is right) his long-tailed
progenitor. He has heard that it is slightly warm on
the Congo—at least, so the meteorologists .say ; but in
Europe, he smiled at th is ; thought he could well endure