208 
Seven Years in Central Africa. [March, 
thus prepared : The roots of a sweet herb were tied round the 
blade ; then a few bent spHnters of wood were tied on, Hke the 
feathers of a shuttle-cock. In the cage thus formed were placed 
a piece of human skin, little bits of the claws of a lion, leopard, 
etc., with food, beer, and medical roots, thus securing, respectively, 
power over their enemies, safety from the paws of fierce animals, 
food and drink, and, finally, health. A cloth was sewn over all, 
and finally the king spat on it and blessed it. 
After all these performances they will set out with light hearts, 
each man marked with sacred chalk. Such is the " fool " in all 
lands; he finds a refuge in his own imaginations. And how 
many there are of professing Christians among our own country- 
men who play the fool ! how many who vainly believe that they 
are rich and increased with goods and have need of nothing ! 
Others vainly say, "Is not the Lord among us?" (Micah iii. ii) 
and claim His promises while they are living to self. 
DOMESTIC MATTERS. 
At present the languages are occupying most of my time. My 
chief interruptions are caused by having to go off occasionally 
to the bush to procure a supply of meat, which I dry and use, 
not so much as food, but to flavour my maize or millet-corn 
porridge, which is my staple article of food ; but as this dried 
meat does not keep very long, I have to exchange large quantities 
of it with the natives for corn. 
Formerly my shooting greatly distressed me, as I wounded 
many animals without killing them. Now, however — I believe in 
answer to prayer — I seldom fail to secure the animal I aim at ; 
this searching for game takes up four or five days every three 
months. I might ere this have taught Dick, my lad, to shoot, 
and have given him this occupation, but I fear his being carried 
away with the excitement of hunting, and becoming a regular 
hunter, an occupation most unsettling and unprofitable. 
The field of corn and beans which my boys have cultivated 
has borne remarkably well, but I fear comparatively little of the 
crop will be secured, thieves and wild pigs having the larger 
share. There is no way of checking the thieves but by catching 
and cruelly beating them. Of course, I will not hear of this being 
done, but, on the contrary, I have been moved to give a meal of 
