of religion, believe implicitly in sorcery; giving a
power to man superhuman, although acknowledging
nothing more than human.
Practical and useful magic is all that is esteemed by
the savage, the higher branches would be unappreciated;
and spirit-rapping and mediums are reserved for the
civilized (?) of England, who would convert the black
savages of Africa.
Notwithstanding his magic, Katchiba was not a bad
man : he was remarkably civil, and very proud at my
having paid him a visit. He gave me much information
regarding the country, but assured me that I
should not be able to travel south for many months,
as it would be quite impossible to cross the Asua river
during the rainy season; he therefore proposed that I
should form a camp at Obbo, and reside there until
the rains should cease. It was now May, thus I was
invited to postpone my advance south until December.
I determined to make a reconnaissance south towards
the dreaded Asua, or, as the Obbo people pronounced
it, the Achua river, and to return to my fixed camp.
Accordingly I arranged to leave Mrs. Baker at Obbo
with a guard of eight men, while I should proceed
south without baggage, excepting a change of clothes
and a cooking pot. Katchiba promised to take the
greatest care of her, and to supply her with all she
might require; offering to become personally responsible
for her safety; he agreed to place a spell upon the door
of our hut, that nothing evil should enter it during my
absence. It was a snug little dwelling, about nine
feet in diameter, and perfectly round; the floor well
cemented with cow-dung and clay, and the walls about
four feet six inches in height, formed of mud and
sticks, likewise polished off with cow-dung. The door
had enlarged, and it was now a very imposing entrance
of about four feet high, and a great contrast to the
surrounding hut or dog-kennel with two feet height
of doorway.
On the 7th of May I started with three men, and
taking a course south, I rode through a most lovely
country, within five miles of the base, and parallel
with the chain of the Madi mountains. There was
abundance of beautiful flowers, especially of orchidaceous
plants; the country was exceedingly park-like
and well wooded, but generally overgrown with grass
then about six feet high. After riding for about fourteen
miles, one of the guides ran back, and reported
elephants to be on the road a little in advance. One
of my mounted men offered to accompany me should
I wish to hunt them. I had no faith in my man, but
I rode forward, and shortly observed a herd of ten bn IT
elephants standing together about sixty yards from the
Y 2