198 
BOOTCHUANA 
country in times of drought. They are held in 
high estimation by all the Bootchuana tribes ; 
but are seldom employed by the nation to which 
they belong, each nation preferring to employ 
one who lives at a distance from them. Should 
it happen to rain soon after his arrival in any 
country, his fame is established for life, and he 
will not forget to boast of it wherever he goes. 
Upon his approach to a town, many of the 
inhabitants go out to meet and congratulate him 
on his safe arrival ; and he is usually presented 
with a black sheep. On his reaching the place 
assigned for his residence, he assumes a grave 
countenance, and none are permitted to enter 
his habitation without first taking off their 
sandals. White oxen, cows, or sheep, are then 
collected and given in charge to the King, who, 
with his chief captains, formally present them 
to the rain-maker. 
He rarely commences the usual ceremonies for 
procuring rain until he sees clouds arising in the 
N. W., from which quarter rain generally comes : 
but of this the natives are ignorant. In those 
latitudes rain seldom falls except at the changes 
of the moon, a circumstance of which the rain- 
maker, from observation, is aware ; and he fre- 
quently ventures to promise a supply at such 
times ; if it do not happen to come, he assigns 
