But there is a consideration in connection with this essay which, with many readers, will have far more weight than its fulness, its literary merit, or, the author fears he must add, than even its accuracy, and that is the question of its tendencies. Is it a temperance or a teetotal book? or does it advocate the use of intoxicating drink? For every one reader whose criticisms are directed to its style or its historical value, there will be many (if many favour it with a perusal) who will be curious to know how it tallies with their particular “ism.” It will afford but little satisfaction to such readers to hear that in this respect the author wishes the book to speak for itself. To promote sobriety was certainly one of the objects for which he undertook his task, and where debated questions have come under discussion which necessitate an expression of opinion, it will be found that, whether correctly or not, the opinion has been given without any reservation. But whether the work would go far enough to please the members of the “United Kingdom Alliance,” or whether it would give offence to those who profit by the sale of drink, these are questions which never entered into the author’s calculations; and if the work should prove to possess any value as an aid to temperance, it will be simply because it has sought faithfully to record the history of drink and its effects upon men and nations. In concluding this brief preface, the author desires to express his obligations to the numerous friends who have helped him with references to authorities, or with their personal experiences; and he has no hesitation in admitting that if the essay possesses any merit, it is to the aid which he has thus received that it must be largely attributed. CLAUGHTON, BIRKENHEAD, _June 1878_. CONTENTS. PAGE CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTORY—INSTINCTIVE TENDENCIES IN MAN AND THE LOWER ANIMALS—DRINKING PROPENSITIES OF SAVAGES—PRE-HISTORIC TRACES, 1 CHAPTER II. THE THREE SUBDIVISIONS OF THE HUMAN FAMILY—THE TURANIAN BRANCH—ANCIENT CHINA—BUDDHIST LAWS CONCERNING DRINK—MODERN CHINA, 15 CHAPTER III. THE DRINKING HABITS OF THE ARYAN RACES OF INDIA—THE VEDAS AND BRAHMINICAL LITERATURE—MODERN INDIA, 34 CHAPTER IV. THE ZEND-AVESTA AND THE FOLLOWERS OF ZOROASTER—THE MODERN PERSIANS—MOHAMMEDAN LAW CONCERNING DRINK AND DRINKING PRACTICES—THE PARSEES OF INDIA, 49 CHAPTER V. THE ANCIENT HEBREWS—THE SCRIPTURE CONTROVERSY CONCERNING DRINK—THE OLD TESTAMENT AND THE TALMUD—THE NEW TESTAMENT—JESUS CHRIST—JOHN THE BAPTIST—ST. PAUL—THE MODERN HEBREWS, 59