Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1888-01-28
A WONDERFUL TREE.
Tho Marvellous and Bsnofirent Propcrtis
of the K0lA Nut.

the nut OF which seems to possess some
qualities. II the prophecies
regarding the beneficent services OF
certain preparations OF it are realized,
an unspeakable boon will be conferred
OH millions of the human race. For
many years 1t has been extensively
used rs an excellent beverage and
sacred symbol in the interior Of Africa;
but now its properties have every rea-
son to be far more extensively utilized.
There is no doubt, from what is al-
ready known, that 1t has the extraor-
binary properly of counteracting the
influence Of alcohol Of giving o slim
ulant in wasting diseases, OF acting rs
powerful tonic in cases of deep-scatcd
injuries Of the digestive organs, Of
purifying foul water. Of overcoming
the sense Of fatigue, and Of exciting TO
arduous work with the least injury to
tho frame.
ltappears that kola-nuts were orig
inally found IN the western territories
of Africa. and that soldiers along the
coast were the first white men who be.
came aware Of their peculiar proper
~. They found. for instance. that the
chewing Of these nuts prevented 0
drunken headache Not only so. but
some who have used the nut-pasteas .
'pick- me-up" assert that while re.
moving the nausea, it gives them
quite "skunner" ut the smell Of
whisky and removes the irritating de.
sire for morning" to keep the
stomach hearty. If the paste be
mixed with cocoa paste. which 1t re-
sembles closely. it produces much
finer and more nutritive chocolate. 1t
has been shown by repeated expert.
ments that the nerve energy produced
by partaking Of the chocolate made
with kola-paste is ten times greater
than that produced by an equal guam
tity Of ordinary cocoa chocolate.
SO nutritious is this kola, that with q
single cup Of it laborer can undergo
days work without any sense
of WEAKNESS. Though it may not
directly feed the muscular system.
it has the property of preventing the
rapid waste of the tissues. So much
have the manufacturers of chocolate,
both in this country and abroad, be :
come alive TO the excellent properties
Of the new PASTE that they are making
arrangements to procure it for mixing
purposes, rs soon as its price becomes
reasonable. The British Government,
too, have gone the length Of making
experiments upon the paste in a pure
state, so rs to ascertain the saving
which would be made in the transit Of
provisions in time OF war by giving
this beverage to the army. 1t Is of
great service for purifying the foul
water which is so prevalent in hot
climates; this will be the preventive OF
many diseases especially 10 Euro
peans 1t has also been found very
useful in clarifying beer and spirits,
acting much like the white of an egg.
or isinglass. A comparison between
the composition Of kola. tea, coffee
and cocoa shows that the proportion
of caffeine is higher in kola than in
any of the others, and 1t exceeds
cocoa in the obromine. just rs with
tea among old ladies. the kola main
tains the health and strength Of the
body in an equal degree upon q
smaller supply of ordinary food. and
arrests tho waste. enabling the less
energetic powers of digestion to sup
ply as much as is needed to repair IthC
wear and tear Of the solid tissues
The obromne of cocoa resembles the
theme of tea and the caffeine of cocoa
and contains even a larger quantity Of
nitrogen. This element in the kolf
is also very active, exercising an ex
hilarating and soothing. hunger
stilling and waste -retarding effect up
on the human system.
DR. Nachtigal giv's some interest
ing information about the kola nu
from personal experience, He tried
1t for some time himself, and, in hi
book on the Sudan. bears testimony
to the great power it has over the
system. The craving for it becomes
more intense than that for either To-
bacco OF alcohol; and he had grea
difficulty in giving up its use
In some places it is 81
highly priced that for the dry
powder of the nut an equal weight o
gold-dust is given in exchange. K'la
too. works wonderful social charm
among the Sudanese. An interchang
of white kola between two chiefs il
like the snuff box between two High
landers-the mark of friendship ant
peace; but red kola sent is indicative
of defiance. When Il young chief ha
made up his mind that he would lik,
to marry the Princess of another trib
he sends to her mother u present o
white kola; with anxiety he awaits il
return the arrival of the white kola
rs a symbol that his suit had been &C
cepted, or the red kola, as hint tina
his application has been gracefully re
jected. Marriage rejoicings would b
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