We carefully weighed this matter, and came to the
conclusion that what Bykender said was true enough;
but as both Lieutenant von Hohnel and I had suffered
continually from fever, we felt unfit even for the short
journey up the mountains; and we did not like to
separate our caravan into two parts. However, there
was no other course open to us.
About this time, according to the Nautical Almanac,
an eclipse of the sun was to occur, which would be
visible in Africa. We looked upon this as a fitting
moment to prove our power as wizards. Accordingly,
for several days before the date assigned for the eclipse,
we took pains to inform Bykender and the other leaders
of the Daitcho that we would, for the purpose of convincing
them of our occult power, cause the sun to
be darkened for the greater portion of one day. With
these people seeing is believing ; so they listened with
polite indifference to our predictions. What was our
horror upon the day assigned, to find that our reading
of the Nautical Almanac had been all too care-
lessly done, and that the eclipse we had prophesied
with so much insistence was visible in all parts of
Africa but that small part in which we were encamped ?
We did not make this, discovery until a few hours before
the time set for the eclipse to occur.
It would not do to appear as false prophets. So
we sent runners to all the leaders of the Daitcho, explaining
to them that we considered the darkening of
the sun, and the consequent shortening of the day, too
serious a matter; that,it would be such a proof of our
power as would probably frighten them; moreover, they
needed all the hours of daylight to work their plantations;
therefore, we would postpone the solar eclipse
until some other time, when daylight was less essential
to them; but, in order to prove our power, and not
cause them to suffer disappointment, we would give
them a demonstration in the evening, in every way as
convincing as the eclipse, and possessing the advantage
of being less troublesome to them.
As already stated, our camp was pitched upon the
slope of a volcanic cone. Being the highest hill in the
Daitcho country, this cone is looked upon by the natives
with great reverence, and is said by them to be haunted
by the. spirits of the dead. None of the Daitcho will
cultivate so much as the slopes of this hill; and in
the memory of the oldest inhabitant no member of
the tribe had ever had the hardihood to ascend to its
summit. Shortly after dark on the day we stated that
the eclipse would occur, we ascended to the top of this
hill, carrying with us two large signal rockets and
an eight-bore express rifle.
Upon reaching the summit, where we knew we would
be visible to the most distant village of the Daitcho,
we fired two shots from the eight-bore to attract
attention, and immediately after discharged in quick
succession the two rockets. The effect of this demonstration
was made apparent upon the following day;
trade ceased, and it was with the utmost difficulty that
we persuaded Bykender and one or two of the more
influential leaders to visit us in our camp.
We asked them whether they had seen us at work
the night before, and if they fully realized what potent
wizards we were ? They shook their heads and shuddered.
After some time had elapsed, Bykender said