The new era., 1910-07-07


Europeans were immune from the
germs of trypanosomniasis-t med
ical term for the disease-but re-
searches have proved that the white
man is just as liable to it as the Jlack
man. One of the white men who
went out on the steamer with me is
now a victim of the disease. The
doctors are anxiously watching the
progress of the scourge. while the af-
fected man knows his dissolution Is
coming slowly and surely.
The last letter received from him
states that his Is the worst case of
record of an European inoculated with
sleep sickness. and he hates to think
that after all his adventures in diff
ferent parts of the world-including
active. hard service In the Cuban war
he must go down before an Internal
little fly.
Vultures are dreadful creatures. 1t
Is SO depressing for sick man to
look up and find those ugly, lean birds
awaiting his dissolution They can
scent death miles Off To many hunt
ers they point out the spot where
wounded game lies. One white man
had a fighting chance tor life. but
when he beheld the vultures overhead
he turned over and gave up the fight.
The annual toll of human lives in
Africa is heavy. very heavy. 1t is
said that in the Uganda Protectorate
alone, upward of $4,000 natives died
In one year from sleep sickness!
Besides the murderous climate the
numerous deaths from wild animals.
snakes and insects. the secret poi
sons of the natives do much dam
| age.
African poisons are subtle. untrace-
| able. Every native Is an adept in
their use.
The negro does not improve by pet
ting, yet If one doesn't pet his cook
he is likely to be sorry, not for the
rest of his life-for his life generally
doesn't endure much longe, after the
/ cook gets down on him--but for all
eternity. Secret poison Is native pas
time, and every white man must run
its gauntlet.
In the bush 1t is not at all unusual
for white man to compel his cook
to first partake of the food brought to
table.
Natives are at heart thieves and
cannibals. Near the trade belts and
government posts they are afraid to
practise the latter. but the very gov
ernment officials are not exempt from
poison. Poison is everywhere. A
white man might fog paddler. or a
carrier. but never his cook. Oh, no.
The cook is monarch of all he sur.
veys. He has to be conciliated,
petted. Civilized people can declaim
all they wish against civilized cooks
and their ways, but they have never
met the African savage variety. The
latter Is impossible in every way
filthy, absolutely filthy. a white man
eats his yearly quota of dirt in a week
and then some. Clothing, food and
other indispensables disappear. The
cook. of course. is the thief, but dare
the white man object? oh. no. The
loss of his entire outfit is little enough
to buy immunity from poison.
No matter how many tablets. cook
ing utensils. or other civilized articles
are brought out at great expense and
trouble, the African cook disdains
them. He practises his filthy habits.
Fish and game are cut up on the
dirty ground A bush knife is used
without cleaning after toenails have
been cut and jiggers dug from un-
washed feet. Cooking utensils are
seldom washed, and dishes are any
thing but clean. But If the white man
will persist in going where he was
never mean to be, he must expect to
pay penalty and he often pays a
very heavy one. Many a white man
has gone the slow death of poison.
when the government Investigated
and brought out the verdict that he
died from climatic conditions.
You can die from almost anything
in Africa, and the common verdict is:
Africa. That's enough. 1t takes in
the whole OF ailments, and accidents
and murders. But II you can keep a
check on your cook and other ma
tive servants who might fancy your
! blanket or tent. you have a fighting
chance with the country-if you use
plain hard common sense. But the
latter Is the hardest thing possible In
Africa. t
] The advice Of every white man who
. las lived in Africa Is: Don't. I agree
! IDA VERA siMoNroN.