The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1910-07-01


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 1t as the black
man. One of the white men who
went out on the steamer with me is
now 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 so down before an Internal
little fly.
Vultnres 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 of. To many hunt.
ers they point out the spot where
wounded game lies. One white man
had fighting chance for 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 moi.
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 II 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 longer 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 mt all unusual
for white man to compel his cook
to first partake of the food brought to
table.
Natives are at heart thieves and
canntbals. Near the trade belts and
government posts they are afraid TO
practise the latter. but the very gov.
eminent officials are not exempt from
poison. Poison Is everywhere. A
white man might fog a paddler or n
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
J latter is impossible In every way
J 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
J 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 mar
will persist In going where he was
never mean to be. he must expect to
pay a 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 be
] died from climatic conditions.
i 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 q
! check on your cook and other ma
tive servants who might fancy your
blanket or tent. you have a fightins
chance with the eountry-if you use
plain hard common sense. But the
! latter is the hardest thing possible In
Africa
. The advice Of every white man who
has lived In Africa Is: Don't agrees
with them.
!. IDA VERA SIMoNrok.