Climate— that heat, since Europe in summer was “ ever so much Parti. .
hotter.” Still, after the ship drops anchor in Banana
Creek, an uncomfortable quantity of perspiration exudes
through the pores of his skin, and the flannels that
were endurable at sea become almost intolerable. On
stepping ashore this warmth increases, the flannels
absorb the perspiration until they are wet and heavy,
and cling uncomfortably to his body. The underclothes
are full; the outward clothing has begun to be damp,
and dark streaks along the seams of his coat show
that they are actually wet, until in fact he represents
a water-jug covered with wet flannel such as we sling
up in the tropics as a water-cooler.
The youth is innocent of any idea if aught should
he done by him as a precaution against the furtive
influences of the new climate. The temperature
without is perhaps 1059-110° Fahr.; but it will be
cooler in the verandah. And now, having arrived and
being hospitably invited to take a chair, he gladly
accepts the invitation, at the same time doffing his
helmet, wiping his red, parboiled face, and fanning
himself with his pocket kerchief. He himself observes
that the temperature is near 25° cooler than outdoors.
Ho one would offer water to a stranger, but wine,
schnapps, beer, gin, seltzer, &c.
See the unsophisticated home-bred youth, how bashfully
he accepts! Is he not in Congo-land ? Why
may he not ape the moustached and brave manhood
about him ? “ I will take wine, if you please.”
Thanks! and a glass of black-red Portuguese wine
is handed to him, which after trial he discovers to be cliPmaratt eL—
more potent than a bottle of champagne.
This strong draught of wine has infused courage
in him; it leads to conviviality and apparent loss of
strangeness. He sits longer, and becomes interested
in the gossip of the coast, which, with men of his
class, is usually made up of fevers, frivolous localisms,
of crocodiles, or hippos, or “ niggers,” and such recitals
as would outlast a Lapland night. But it is now
evening and dinner time.
The ill-fated youth has enjoyed his dinner and potent
wine, and a comfortable arm-chair receives his repleted
form. The night is cool, and gracious, and bland ; the
stars shine brightly, but there is an unaccountable
chilliness in the air, and the poor young man has long
ago forgotten the wringing-wet state of his flannels,
and could not discern, through his verdant experience,
that he was like a water-cooler. At last he seeks the
couch offered him by the hospitable trader, on which
he tosses about till cockcrow with disturbed dreams.
In the morning he feels unwell; his tongue is furred,
and a strange lassitude has taken possession of him.
This feeling grows into a nauseous sickness. He is
visited about the time of dejeuner, and is discovered
with flushed face, watery eyes and a rapid pulse, and
declared to have a fever!
Then there is the medicating of the sick man in a
rude unskilful way, and a rough but kindly nursing of
him. But the personal attendant is a black negro, to
whom the white man is an absolute stranger. The