432 Wanderings in Eastern Africa. 
the Wachaga spent the time in singing, and they 
made the forest ring with their wild music. 
Next day, reaching the border, the natives per- 
formed a ceremony to disenchant us, and our whole 
party was christened with a professionally prepared 
liquor, supposed to possess the potency of neutralizing 
evil influences, and removing the spell of wicked 
spirits. 
At camp we were very heartily received — the people 
crowding about us in large numbers to hear the news. 
None were more curious than the mange. He was 
very disappointed to hear that the "white matter" 
was not silver. "But," said Mtema, emphatically, 
" it is water, mange ! nothing but water, mange ! 
Here it is in the calabash ; look at it, mange." 
The stones and plants which we had brought down 
with us were closely examined ; they were quite 
unknown to the people and greatly astonished them. 
They left the camp, saying, " The white man is 
Erua ! " (a god.) 
