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A Crafty Old African Chief

HEN the celebrated they are so greedy and so stingy that they explorer Baker was will not supply him properly, how can at Obbo in Africa, they expect him to think of their interhe met a shrewd ests? No goats, no rain, that's our conold chief named tract, my friends," says Katchiba. "Do Katchiba. Kat-as you like: I can wait; I hope you can." chiba laid claim to Should his people complain of too much intercourse with rain, he threatens to pour storms and the unseen world, lightning upon them forever, unless they and to authority bring him so many baskets of corn. Thus over the elements; rain and he holds his sway. drouth, calm and tempest, No man would think of starting on a being supposed by his sub- journey without the blessing of the old jects to be equally under his chief, and a peculiar "hocus-pocus" is command. Sometimes, if considered necessary from the magic the country had been afflicted with drouth hands of Katchiba, that shall charm the beyond the usual time of rain, Katchiba traveller, and preserve him from all danger would assemble his people, and deliver a of wild animals upon the road. In case long harangue, speaking against their of sickness he is called in, not as M. D. in evil doings, which had kept off the rain. our acceptation, but as Doctor of Magic. These evil doings, on being examined, and he charms both the hut and patient generally proved to be little more than a against death, with the fluctuating results want of liberality toward himself. He that must attend professionals, even in explained to them that he sincerely re- sorcery. His subjects have the most gretted their conduct, which "has com- thorough confidence in his power; and so pelled him to afflict them with unfavorable great is his reputation that distant tribes weather, but that it is their own fault. If frequently consult him, and beg his assist- P ance as a magician. In this manner does was the necessary result of goats and pro. old Katchiba hold his sway over his savage visions given to the chief, and, as soon as but credulous people; and so long has he he got the proper fees, the rain should imposed upon the public, that he seems come. to have imposed upon himself, and to When his guests were lying ill in their really believe that he has the power huts, struck down with the fever which is of sorcery, notwithstanding repeated prevalent in hot and moist climates, such failures. as that of Obbo, Katchiba came to visit Once, while Baker was in the country, them in his character of magician, and Katchiba, like other rain-makers, fell into performed a curious ceremony. He took a dilemma. There had been no rain for a small leafy branch, filled his mouth with