Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1890-06-06
CIO be continued.
THE TRAFFIC IN GIN.
II Degrades the Pebble of Africa More
Than Did the Slave Trade

Than DID the Slave Trade
With the stoppage of the slave trade
the gin traffic only received a more pow
erfuI stimulus To its propagation all the
energies of the traders were devoted. For
spirits there was already Il huge demand,
and it was increasing out of all proper
ton to the taste for better things. 1t re-
quired no eXertiOns on the part of the
merchants to set 1t going, and once started
grew and spread of itself without any
danger of It's stopping. The profits, too,
We're enormous and certain, because the
appetite for drink had to be assuaged, no
matter what the price was. ct IN all
conscience the pleasures of lntOXICatlon are
not expensive in West Africo. Over the
doorway of hundreds of traders houses
might be hung the signhoard of Hogarth' S
picture: Drunk for penny, dead drunk
for two pence, only the "clean straw for
nothing, would have to be left out With
the traffic in useful articles it was entirely
different. To push it was Il slow and
laborious task, and the profits were I'M
certain, which did not suit men who
wanted to make money rapidly.
The result of this state of matters is that
the diaboicaI work commenced 10y the
slave trade has been etfectually carried on
and widened by that in spirits. |, for
one am inclined to believe that the latter
is producing greater-and what are likely
to be quite as lasting ills than the for
mer. The spirit traffic as a more brutal
ling effect it more effe tually blights all
native 5 energies, it ruins his constitution,
and, through the habits 1t gives rise to. his
lands are left as desOlate as after slave
raid.
What are the most characteristic
European imports into West Africa? Gin,
rum, gunpowder and guns. WHAT Euro
pean articles most IN demand? The
same. In what light do the natives look
upon the Europeans? Why, as makers
and sellers of spirits and guns What
largely supports the governmental machin-
cry for that region? Still the same art
iclcs.
The ships which trade to Africa are
loaded with gin out of all proportion to
more useful articles; the warehouses along
the coast are filed with it. The air seems
to reek with the vile stuff. and every hut
Is redolent of its fumes. Gin bottles and
boxes meet the eye at every step, and in
some places the wealth and importance Of
the various villages are measured by
the size of the pyramids of empty gin bot
ties which they erect to their own honor
and glory and the envy of poorer districts.
Over large areas it is almost the sole cur
rency, and in many parts the years wages
of the negro factory workers is paid in
spirits with which they return home to
enjoy Il few days of fendish debauch.-
Joseph Thompson in Contemporary Re-
view
Ambergris-Th word ambergris is
French, and signifies gray amber; but by
whom or when first applied to this marine
phenomenon we have not been able to dis
cover
The scientific explanation of The nature
of ambergriS is that 1t is the product of
some disease in the sperm whale analogous
to gall stones. 1t is found sometimes in
the inteStines of the creature, but more
frequently is found, after expulsion, float
ing on the surface of tropical seas. 1t
floats in masses which have speckIed-
gray appearance, and mixed with which
are generally found some remnants Of iae
known food of whales.
The best quality of ambergris is soft and
waxy, out it is said not to be uniform in
color. The Streaky and marked speci-
mentS are preferred. Il is Opaque and in
tiammable, remarkably light as to specific
gravity, as may be understood from its
always keeping the surface and it is rug
ged to the touch.
Most of what comes In to the market is
found near the Bahama lSlanGS, but it is
also found at the Moluccas and other parts
of the Indian Ocean, off portion of the
coast of South America, and sometimes
floating on the Atlantic Ocean.
~ The essential characteristic of ambeTgriS
is its powerful and peculiar odor. 1t is so
peculiar, that art has never been able to
initiate it. although the scarcity and en-
ormous price of ambergris has lent every
stimulus to invention. 1t is so powerful
and diffuSive that the very minuteSt guam
tity is preceptible in the more fragrant
perfumes.
The chief component of ambergris Is a
fatty matter called amberein, which Is ob-
tanned by boiling in alcoholic. This
ambreian-and there Is said to be about
IS per cent. of it in the best ambergris-
is what ives it its value, for it is in this
ingredient that the perfume lies.
There Is another peculiarly asCribed to
ambergris, and that Is the power to exalt
the flavor and perfume of other substances
with which it Is brought into combination
Thus, grain or two rubbed down with
sugar is often added to a hogshead of wine
giving a preceptible. and. what Is con-
Sku6Ttu ON >uuic- an kAtNSd idNtI 10 TIC
whole. And small particle of ambergris
added to other perfumes is found to exalt
the odor of the blend.
In fact, ambergris Is too dear to use alone
and il is so dear that it is one of the most
adulterated articles known to chemists. 1t
is adulterated both by those who export it
and in the countries in which it is used
Chamber Journal.
Gov Thayer. of Nebraska, has revoked
his call for special meeting of the legisla
ture.