378 
TRAVELS IN AFRICA. Chap. XLIX. 
appeared in the sky, I went out of my house and 
made the clouds withdraw ; for they had assured him 
that they had repeatedly noticed that, as soon as I 
looked at the clouds with a certain air of command, 
they passed by without bringing a single drop of rain. 
However serious the countenance of the messenger 
was, the purport of his message was so absurdly 
ridiculous that I could not help breaking out into a 
loud laugh, highly amused at the really pagan 
character of these soi-disant Mohammedans ; but my 
friend begged me to regard the matter in a more 
serious light, and to take care what sort of answer 
I sent to his master. I then begged him to tell the 
governor that no man either by charm or by prayer 
was able either to prevent or to cause rain, but that 
God sent rain wherever and whenever it pleased him. 
I added, however, that if he believed my presence in 
the country was causing mischief, he might allow me 
to go, that I did not desire anything better than that, 
and should then pray night and day for rain, but 
that at present I myself could not wish for much 
rain, as I was afraid lest it should cut off my retreat, 
by swelling the river to too great a height. 
The messenger departed with my answer, and re- 
turned after a while with the ultimatum of the 
governor, to the effect that it was his own opinion that 
no human being was able to prevent rain, but that all 
of us were servants of the Almighty, and that as they 
were praying for rain, I myself should add my prayer 
to theirs ; I should then be allowed, at the proper time, 
