a knowing old diplomatist, and he times his demands
with great judgment. Thus, should there be a lack of
rain, or too much, at the season for sowing the crops,
he takes the opportunity of calling his subjects together
and explaining to them “ how much he regrets that
their conduct has compelled him to afflict them with
unfavourable weather, but that it is their own fault.
If they are so greedy and so stingy that they will not
supply him properly, how can -they expect him to
think of their interests ? He' must have goats and
corn. “No goats, no rain; that’s our contract, my
friends,” .says Katchiba, “ Do as you like. I can
w a it; I hope you can.” Should his people complain
of too much rain, he threatens to pour storms and
lightning upon them for ever, unless they bring him
so many hundred baskets of corn, &c. &c. Thus he
holds his sway.
No man would think of starting upon a journey
without the blessing of the old chief; and a peculiar
“ hocus pocus ” is considered as necessary from the
magic hands of Katchiba that shall charm the traveller,
and preserve him from all danger of wild animals upon
the road. In case of sickness he is called in, not as
M.D. in our acceptation, but as “ doctor of magic,” and
he charms both the hut and the patient against death,
with the fluctuating results that must attend professionals
even in sorcery. His subjects have the most
thorough confidence in his power ; and so great is his
reputation that distant tribes frequently consult him,
and beg his assistance as a magician. In this manner
does old Katchiba hold his sway over his savage, but
credulous people ; and so long has he imposed upon
the public that I believe he has at length imposed
upon himself, and that he really believes that he has
the power of sorcery, notwithstanding repeated failures.
In order to propitiate him, his people frequently present
him with the prettiest of their daughters ; and so
constantly is he receiving additions to his domestic
circle that he has been obliged to extend his establishment
to prevent domestic fracas among the ladies.
He has accordingly hit upon the practical expedient
of keeping a certain number of wives in each of his
villages : thus, when he makes a journey through his
territory, he is always at home. This multiplicity of
wives has been so successful that Katchiba has one
hundred and sixteen children living—another proof
of sorcery in the eyes of his people. One of his wives
had no children, and she came to me to apply for
medicine to correct some evil influence that had lowered
her in her husband’s estimation. The poor woman was
in great distress, and complained that Katchiba was
very cruel to her because she had been unable to make