THE DEADLY FIRE-WATER. 
ig 
all over the mud floor, and in one corner a heap 
of black, square-faced, empty gin bottles. There 
was only one man not too far gone for speech. 
To him I expressed great regret that they should 
be so foolish. With a leer, he replied, White 
man count gin a good thing, or why he done bring 
him for we country ? All white man be brothers, 
why talk I with another mouth " (in another 
fashion)? I explained why, and he was satisfied. 
Just then a goat came running by, and at once I 
said : ** Suppose 1 catch them goat and give him 
gin, what thing them goat go do? He signified 
that the goat's head would go round and round ; 
it would be drunk. Quite right,'' I replied, but 
let two days, three days pass, and I try make them 
goat drink gin again, what thing them goat go 
do? Like a flash he replied, Them goat no fit 
to agree." Then came the chance for which I had 
been waiting, and I asked : Does goat get sense 
past man? " He recognised he was cornered, and 
then added very pathetically : O etubom (master), 
it be no use to talk this word to we now. We done 
drink gin long time too much. Suppose we no 
drink again, some big fire inside will humbug we 
all the time plenty too much ; but I beg you, massa, 
talk this word to our boys and girls, and make 
them no be fool all same as their fathers." What 
he begged us to do, we have done from the begin- 
ning. And more ! Every member of the Primi- 
tive Methodist Church in Africa is a total abstainer, 
and is also pledged not to trade in it in any way* 
Believe me, a drink-freed Africa would soon be a 
Christ-controlled Africa. Do your best to help us 
abolish the gin and the rum ! 
