circular hut, but about twenty-five feet in diametèr.
Creeping on all fours through the narrow doorway, we
found ourselves in the presence of one of his wives,
who was preparing merissa. The furniture of the
apartment was practical, and quite in accordance with
the taste of the old chief, as the whole establishment
appeared to be devoted to brewing merissa. There were
several immense jars capable of holding about thirty
gallons : some of these were devoted to beer, while one
was reserved to contain little presents that he had received
from ourselves and the Turks, including a much-
esteemed red flannel shirt; these recherché objects
were packed in the jar, and covered by a smaller vessel
inverted on the mouth to protect them from rats and
white ants. Two or three well-prepared ox-hides were
spread upon the ground ; and he requested Mrs. Baker
to sit on hîS right hand, while I sat upon the left.
Thus satisfactorily arranged, he called for some
merissa, which his wife immediately brought in an
immense gourd-shell, and both my wife and I having
drunk, he took a long draught, and finished the gourd.
The delightful old sorcerer, determined to entertain
us, called for his rababa : a species of harp was
handed to him ; this was formed of a hollow base and
an upright piece of wood, from which descended
eight strings. Some time was expended in carefully
tuning his instrument, which, being completed, he
asked, ‘ if he should sing V Fully prepared for some-
tning comic, we begged him to begin. He sang a
most plaintive and remarkably wild, but pleasing air,
accompanying himself perfectly on his harp, producing
the best music that I had ever heard among savages.
In fact, music and dancing were old Katchiba’s delight,
especially if combined with deep potations. His song
over, he rose from his seat and departed, but presently
reappeared, leading a sheep by a string, which he
begged us to accept. I thanked him for his attention,
but I assured him that we had not paid him a visit
with the expectation of receiving a present, and that
we could not think of accepting it, as we had simply
called upon him as friends ; he accordingly handed the
sheep to his wife, and shortly after we rose to depart.
Having effected an exit by creeping through the doorway,
he led us both by the hand in a most friendly
way for about a hundred yards on our path, and took
leave most gracefully, expressing a hope that we should
frequently come to see him.
“ On our return home we found the sheep waiting for
u s ; determined not to be refused, he had sent it on
before us. I accordingly returned him a most gorgeous
necklace of the most valuable beads, and gave the
native who had brought the sheep a present for himself