ANECDOTE OF A RAIN-MAKER. 43 



flueuce. Amidst a variety of circumstances which 

 might be adduced in illustration of this strange de- 

 lusion, the following particulars were related to me 

 during my stay at Wesleyville : — Pato on one occa- 

 sion came to Mr. Shaw, and remarked he had fre- 

 quently heard him say, when preaching, that no man 

 could make rain ; that the God of the Bible could 

 alone cause it to descend upon the earth. He com- 

 plained that in consequence the rain-maker's craft 

 was much endangered, since the Gaffers believed in 

 his ability to produce rain on their solicitations; 

 " Let us, therefore," said he, " have the question set 

 at rest. We will have our rain-maker summoned to 

 meet you in an open plain, when all the Gaffers of 

 the surrounding kraals shall be present, to judge 

 between yourself and him." Mr. Shaw agreed to 

 this proposition, and appointed a time and place for 

 the trial of their rain-maker's skill. The day arrived, 

 and with it thousands of Gaffers from the neigh- 

 bouring country. The Chiefs all appeared in their 

 war dresses, and everything was arranged for the 

 event, in the full pomp of a Gaffer show. Mr. Shaw 

 being confronted with a celebrated rain-maker, de- 

 clared openly before them all, that God alone gave 

 rain ; and the more to convince them, lie offered to 

 present the rain-maker with a team of oxen, if he 

 should succeed in causing any to descend within a 

 certain specified time. The rain-maker commenced 

 his ceremonies, which, according to Mr. Shaw's de- 



