an addition to his family, but that she was sure I
possessed some charm that would raise her to the
standard of his other wives. I could not get rid of
her until I gave her the first pill that came to hand
KATCHIBA'S ELDEST SON.
from my medicine-chest, and with this she went away
contented.
Katchiba was sp completely established i n . his
country, not only as a magician, but as “ père de
famille," that every one of his villages was governed
by one of his sons ; thus the entire government was a
family affair. The sons of course believed in their
father’s power of sorcery, and their influence as head
men of their villages increased the prestige of the
parent. Although without an idea of a Supreme
Being, the whole country bowed down to sorcery.
It is a curious distinction between faith and credulity ;
—these savages, utterly devoid of belief in a Deity,
and without a vestige of superstition, believed most
devotedly that the general affairs of life and the
control of the elements were in thè hands of their old
chief, and therefore they served him—not with a feeling
of love, neither with a trace of religion, but with
that material instinet that always influences the
savage ; they propitiated him for the sake of what
they could obtain. I t is this almost unconquerable
feeling, ever present in the savage mind, that renders
his conversion difficult ; he will believe in nothing,
unless he can obtain some specific benefit from the
object of his belief.
Savages can be ruled by two powers-—“ force,” and
“ humbug ; ” accordingly, these are the instruments
made use of by those in authority : where the “ force ”
is wanting, “ humbug ” is the weapon as a “ pis aller.”
Katchiba having no physical force, adopted cunning,
and the black art controlled the savage minds of his
subjects. Strange does it appear, that these uncivilized
inhabitants of Central Africa should, although devoid
Vol. 1 . Y