The former acts as opium, and incapacitates for work, dulls the intellect, destroys every atom of will-power, and tends, if persisted in, to shorten life. An _I’daha_ smoker is readily known by the glazed look in his eyes, and by his miserable appearance. On our arrival here _I’daha_ pipes were introduced into the camp, but they were very soon destroyed, and the smoking of _I’daha_ is now an offence punishable by dismissal without _mali_ (money). This rule has effected a great improvement in the general tone of the men and in their capacities for work. So injurious to brain and health is this vice that in some parts of South Africa _I’daha_ smoking is prohibited under a penalty. One of the most distressing features of this practice is the painful fit of loud coughing which always follows the use of the pipe. _Doro_, brewed from _rapoko_ (a red millet), is drunk very extensively by the Makalanga in this district, seeing that this part of the country yields grain in such enormous quantities. But the natives do not regard _doro_ as a mere beverage. At new and full moons, or at the rising or setting of the Pleiades, which determine the sowing and harvesting seasons, _doro_ is provided by the native farmers in lieu of wages, and on these occasions it is drunk most extensively by people of all ages. The men delight in gulping it down in quantities with the avowed and deliberate intention of getting drunk as soon as possible. The state of stupefaction induced by _doro_ is one of their most exquisite delights. On Saturday mornings the one topic of conversation of the gang is as to how much beer they will drink on _I’zhuba Kuru_ (Sunday), how soon they will get drunk, and what they will do when they are drunk. On Mondays, in spite of their “large heads” and sodden appearance, discussions take place as to who were the most drunk. The one who lost most control of himself is considered a hero. In their opinion the man who was most intoxicated honours himself, and can afford to boast. Even those who are in many other respects the most hopeful young men equally delight in getting absolutely intoxicated. The lads from eight years of age imbibe _doro_ most copiously, while boys of twelve get as drunk as their seniors. The brains of the natives are so small that the _doro_ acts upon them speedily, and two hours’ drinking will undo all the benefit of two years’ contact with civilisation. Then all their innate savage nature reasserts itself in every violent form, and their swaggering insolence, inspired by _doro_, is intolerable. But the evils of _I’daha_ smoking and _doro_ drinking are not of modern origin, but are ingrained in their blood and bone by many past centuries of devotion to these practices.