. British Central Africa; an attempt to give some account of a portion of the territories under British influence north of the Zambezi. Natural history. THE EUROPEAN SETTLERS 181 therefore propose to repeat my diatribes in this book. But it should be added that what I object to is not the drinking of good wine or beer, but the con- sumption of spirits. Whisky is the bane of Central Africa as it is of West Africa, South Africa and Australia. I dare say brandy is as bad as whisky but it has passed out of fashion as a drink, and therefore it has not incurred my animosity to the same extent as the
. British Central Africa; an attempt to give some account of a portion of the territories under British influence north of the Zambezi. Natural history. THE EUROPEAN SETTLERS 181 therefore propose to repeat my diatribes in this book. But it should be added that what I object to is not the drinking of good wine or beer, but the con- sumption of spirits. Whisky is the bane of Central Africa as it is of West Africa, South Africa and Australia. I dare say brandy is as bad as whisky but it has passed out of fashion as a drink, and therefore it has not incurred my animosity to the same extent as the national product of Scotland and Moreover, brandy is invaluable in sickness. If any spirits are drunk it seems to me that gin is the least harmful, as it has a good effect on the kidneys. In hot climates like that of Central Africa whisky seems to have a bad effect on the liver and on the kidneys. I do not suppose these words will have much effect on my IVORY AT MANDALA STORE (AFRICAN LAKES COMPANY) Alcoholic excess is our national vice, and while we are ready enough to deplore the opium-eating-or-smoking on the part of the Indians or Chinese, —a vice which is not comparable in its ill effects to the awful abuse of alcohol which is so characteristic of the northern peoples of Europe,—we still remain indifferent to the effects of spirit-drinking which has been the principal vice of the nineteenth century. The abuse of wine or beer, though bad like all abuses, is a relatively wholesome excess compared to even a moderate consumption of spirits. Though I think of the two extremes total abstinence is the better course to follow in Central Africa, I do not recommend total abstinence from all forms of alcohol. I think, on the contrary, the moderate use of wine is distinctly beneficial, especially for anaemic people. Trading with the natives on a large scale is, as I have said, chiefly confined to two or three large companies—the African Lakes, Sharrer's, the
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