MANNERS AND CUSTOMS. 
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some reason, and promises to bring it in so many 
days more, a period which corresponds with the 
next lunar change. 
When he is long unsuccessful in his attempts 
to bring rain, he must exert all his faculties to 
devise methods for keeping up the expectations 
of the people, who then begin to complain. The 
general reason at first assigned is, that sufficient 
presents have not been given him ; when he has 
proceeded as far in this way as he judges prudent, 
he devises new methods ; for example, on one 
occasion he commanded that all should wash 
themselves in the Krooman River. Most of them 
obeyed, though it is a ceremony against which 
they are prejudiced ; but some, especially among 
the young men, refused, declaring, that if rain 
could not be obtained but on such terms, they 
would rather be without it. The rain-maker, 
therefore, desired these persons to catch a large 
baboon, and bring it to him alive. This is an 
animal extremely difficult to obtain. A numerous 
party immediately set out on this foolish expedi- 
tion, and tried many expedients for obtaining 
one, but all were fruitless : however, they were 
successful in killing one, which they brought to 
the rain-maker. This he rejected with disdain, 
as being useless ; and ordered an owl to be 
caught, and brought alive to him. This under- 
taking they found as difficult as the former, and 
