In the expedition to Ashanti, on the Gold Coast, West Africa, when we
captured the King, Prempeh, he was carrying in his mouth a kind of nut
which looked like big, fat cigar. We found that he did this to prevent
himself talking too much.
If he felt inclined to make some meaningless remark, or in the heat of
an argument to let out a hasty opinion, he could not do so without
first having to take this impediment out of his mouth, and that gave
him time to think twice about what he was going to say.
I often think it would be a good thing if every nasty-tempered fellow
had to carry such a nut in his mouth, so that when he wanted suddenly
to let out a volley of abuse it would give him time to think and stop
it.
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