V WHITE MEN IN THE TROPICS 101 



day's illness ; but when living in open cultivated 

 marshy districts I almost invariably had malarial fever, 

 though I believe the worst types of these fevers are due to 

 unwholesome food. But here again, malaria was equally 

 prevalent in England less than two centuries ago. 



If we take the great belt, about two thousand miles 

 wide, extending from twelve to fifteen degrees north and 

 south of the equator, we have an enormous area, by far the 

 larger part of which is not only well adapted for European 

 colonization in the true sense, that is, for permanent 

 occupation by white men, but is also with proper sanitary 

 precautions the most healthy and enjoyable part of the 

 world, and that in which the labourer can obtain the 

 maximum return with the minimum of toil. I formed 

 this opinion in 1851 when returning down the Rio Negro 

 and Amazon after four years' residence there, and my 

 subsequent eight years' experience in the East has only 

 confirmed it. I then wrote as follows : 



*'It is a vulgar error, copied and repeated from one book to 

 another, that in the tropics the luxuriance of the vegetation over- 

 powers the efforts of man. Just the reverse is the case : Nature 

 and climate are nowhere so favourable to the labourer, and I fear- 

 lessly assert that here (on the Rio Negro) the primeval forest can 

 be converted into rich pasture or into cultivated fields, gardens 

 and orchards, containing every variety of produce, with half the 

 labour, and, what is of more importance, in less than half the time 

 that would be required at home." 



Then, after giving some details as to the various crops 

 that may be grown and the varieties of fruits, vege- 

 tables and animal food that can be easily had, I conclude 

 thus : 



"Now I unhesitatingly affirm that two or three families, each 

 containing half a dozen working and industrious men and boys, and 

 being able to bring a capital in goods of £50 (|250), might in three 

 years find themselves in possession of all I have mentioned. Sup- 

 posing them to become used to the mandiocca and maize bread, 

 they would, with the exception of clothing, have no one necessary 

 or luxury to purchase ; they would be abundantly supplied with 

 pork, beef and mutton, poultry, eggs, butter, milk and cheese, 

 coffee and cocoa, molasses and sugar. Delicious fish, turtles and 

 turtles' eggs, and a great variety of game would furnish theii- table 



