Chap. YI. INTEMPERANCE AT TETTE. 143 



parties in each other's houses. During these meetings, the 

 curious debilitating effects of the climate may be witnessed. 

 In the course of an hour a number of the- members be- 

 come too feeble to sit in their chairs, and slip unconsciously 

 under the table; while others, who have been standing 

 up loudly singing or talking, fall into one another's arms, 

 swearing eternal friendship, but gradually losing con- 

 trol both of tongue and limb. Slaves sit at the door, who, 

 understanding these symptoms, enter and bear their weak 

 and prostrate masters home. We should not hesitate to 

 ascribe these symptoms to inebriety, if intoxication was not 

 described here by the phrase "he speaks English," that is, 

 " he's drunk ;" so that any such charge would have the ap- 

 pearance of a tu quoque. The shocking prevalence of intem- 

 perance and other vices among the Portuguese at Tette made 

 us wonder, not that they had fever, but that they were not 

 all swept off together. Their habits would be fatal in 

 any climate ; the natives marvelled even more than wo did ; 

 our Makololo, for instance, looked on aghast at these con- 

 vivial parties, and Sininyane described one in a way that 

 might have done the actors good. "A Portuguese stands 

 up," said he, "and cries 'Viva!' that means, I am pleased; 

 another says, ' Viva ! ' I am pleased too ; and then they all 

 shout out 'Viva!' We are all pleased together ; 'they are so 

 glad just to get a little beer." One night he saw three 

 inebriated officers in the midst of their enjoyment, quarrel- 

 ling about a false report ; one jumped on his superior and 

 tried to bite him ; and, whilst these two were rolling on the 

 floor, the third caught up a chair and therewith pounded 

 them both. Sininyane, horrified at such conduct, exclaimed, 

 " What kind of people can these whites be, who treat even 

 their chiefs in this manner ? " 



