THE WORLD'S WONDERS. ]73 



made him a famous father ; at the time of Baker's visit the old 

 chief had one hundred and sixteen children living, and perhaps as 

 many more dead. Each village in the Obbo country is ruled by 

 one of his sons, so that the entire government is a family affair. 



A FIXE OLD CHIEF. 



KATCHIBA was not a bad man, although a sorcerer, and he 

 treated Baker with much kindness, besides furnishing most valu- 

 able information concerning the country south of him. It was 

 now May, and he told Baker that on account of the Asua river 

 being swollen by heavy rains, it would be impossible to cross it 

 before December, and he must therefore postpone his departure. 

 In his anxiety to proceed, however, Baker left his wife at Obbo, 

 under a guard of eight men and the immediate care of Katchiba, 

 who promised to protect her; and taking three men with him, 

 he started upon a short trip to test the accuracy of the chief's 

 assertions in regard to the river. 



Proceeding southward, the route lay through a lovely country, 

 park-like and well-wooded, though generally overgrown with 

 grass about six feet high. Upon reaching the Asua river it was 

 found to be a roaring torrent, and Baker's conclusions in regard 

 to it were confirmed by a local chief, who assured him that it 

 could not be crossed during the rainy season. He accordingly 

 returned to Obbo. 



He had been absent more than a week, and naturally felt some 

 anxiety in regard to the safety of his wife, but he found her 

 looking remarkably well, and regularly installed "at home." 

 Several fat sheep were tied by the legs to pegs in front of the 

 hut, a number of tame fowls were pecking around the entrance, 

 and she met her husband on the threshold with a large pumpkin 

 shell containing about a gallon of native beer. These luxuries 

 were all presents from the kind-hearted old chief, who soon 

 appeared upon the scene, wearing a very self-satisfied countenance 

 at having so faithfully carried out his promise to protect the 

 white woman. Mrs. Baker gave him an excellent character; he 

 had even been so careful of her safety as to place several of his 

 own sons as guards over the hut day and night. Baker accord- 



