312 THROUGH ANGOLA 



the highlands of Benguella and Huilla as in 

 any temperate zone, for such diseases as colds, 

 sore throats, lung trouble, rheumatism, and most 

 specific fevers prevalent in Europe, are con- 

 spicuous by their absence in the pure bracing air 

 and bacteria-destroying sunshine of the Angolan 

 highlands. 



There are certain tropical diseases, however, 

 which, everywhere present in the lowlands, may be 

 met with in the plateaux except at the highest 

 elevations. These are mainly due to biting 

 insects and bad water, and both causes can 

 usually be avoided. The chapter on insects has 

 shown that the malarial mosquito, more 

 numerous in the rainy season than the dry, is 

 prevalent in Angola below 4000 feet, and occa- 

 sionally above that altitude; so that only the 

 highest portions of the central and southern 

 plateau can be considered as malaria-free. Even 

 in those portions of the highlands where ano- 

 phelene mosquitoes can breed, it should be pos- 

 sible to destroy them and render the country 

 suitable for European colonization. 



The malaria of the West Coast, in contra- 

 distinction to that of East Africa and India, may 

 usually be prevented by taking 5 grains of quinine 

 every afternoon, using mosquito nets or mosquito- 

 proofed rooms, and wearing mosquito boots in the 

 evening. Personally, I use a mosquito room, 

 which fixes into my tent, where it is possible to 

 bathe, feed, work, and sleep in comfort and safety, 

 after return to camp in the evening. 



Attacks of fever should be treated with 10- 



