CH A PT ER X X X Y I.
CLIMATE PART II.
Dr. von. Danckelman’s observations—Definition of beat—Cold—Exposure
—Advantage of awnings—Equable temperature of the body—Temperature
in South America—Inequality of the Congo climate—Long
marches and gulps of cold water—A cool place—“ He is only joking ”
—“ The White Man’s Grave ”—Advice to doctors—Pood and drink—-
Daily life—Medicine—Diseases—Meteorological Tables.
climate— A n intending emigrant from Wasco County, in far
Part II.
Oregon, has sent me the following questions, and I am
glad to receive them, since they afford me a reason for
popularising the information collated with vast industry
by Dr. von Danckelman during his stay at one
of the stations on the Lower Congo. Those who
prefer to study the scientific brochure in the original
must be referred to the “ Mémoire sur les Observations
Météorologiques, sur la Climatologie de la Côte
sud-ouest d’Afrique en général, par A. von Danckelman,
Dr. Phil. Berlin : A. Asher et Cie. 1884.” *
The emigrant says :|f||gÉ
“ Will you please give information as to soil, climate, natural produc1-'
tions, general health, and adaptation to the wants of the civilised white
people ? ____________ ___________
* The full and copious index attached to these volumes will enable
any one to discover the amount and variety of information contained
within the text.
“ Please give us the average rainfall, how many inches, and how ^ “ Redistributed
; how many months wet, and how many dry; how many “
inches of rain falls each month, and does rain fall gently or in torrents?
Is the country good for stock-raising and farming ? Is that African pest
the Tsetse fly, that kills stock, found in the Great Interior Basin ? What
kinds of stock have you? How is agriculture carried on, and what
varieties of grain and vegetables are grown ? Have you plenty of timber,
and what varieties that is and will be valuable ? Do you have severe
winds and thunderstorms ? Is Africa very hot ? Please state the greatest
heat, and whether great heat continues long, and please give the temperature
throughout the year. Are the natives favourable to the whites
settling in their country ? How can one procure land from them or the
International Association to get genuine title, and at what cost per acre,
section, or league ? What tax is there on the citizen or the settler ? Are
there many poisonous reptiles or very dangerous wild beasts? Is game,
fishes, and wild fowls plenty, and of what kinds ? Does the Association
wish to encourage immigration ?
“ Please give names of stations of the International Association, and
state whether on a river or lake, in thé valley or plains, or in the
mountains.”
Another inquisitive person, who probably has an idea
that his constitution could stand the Congo climate
asks me , What kind of a heat is that of the Congo ? ”
As perhaps the observations of Dr. Danckelman may
convey to such an inquirer but an imperfect idea of
the subject, I cannot do better than reprint the very
popular definitions of heat giyen by James Bruce, the
traveller. He writes :—
“ No. 1. I t is warm when a man, so clothed, does not sweat when at
rest, but, upon moderate motion, perspires and cools again.
“ No. 2. I t is hot when a man perspires while at rest, and excessively
on moderate motion.
“ No. 3. I t is very hot when a man with thin or little clothing perspires
much though at rest.
“ No. 4. I t is excessively hot when a man in his shirt perspires excessively,
when all motion is painful, and the knees feel feeble, as if after
a fever.
“ No. 5. I t is extremely hot, when the strength fails, a disposition to
faint comes on, a straitness is found in the temples, as if a small cord was