PROPHETIC YRENZY. 
84.' i 
behaved very differently. They began by trying to spear 
a young man who had gone for water. Then they ap- 
proached us, and one came forward howling at the top of 
his voice in the most hideous manner : his eyes wore shot 
out, his lips covered with foam, and every muscle of his 
frame quivered. lie came noar to mo, and, having a small 
battle-axe in his hand, alarmed my men lest ho might 
do violence; but they wore afraid to disoboy my previous 
orders and to follow their own inclination by knocking 
him on the hoad. I felt a little alarmed too, but would not 
show fear before my own people or strangers, and kept a 
sharp look-out on the little battle-axe. It seemed to me a 
caso of ecstasy or prophetic frenzy voluntarily produced. I 
felt it would bo a sorry way to leavo me world to get 
my head chopped by a mad savago, though that, perhaps, 
would bo preferable to hydrophobia or delirium tromons. 
Sokwebu took a spoar in his right hand, as if to pierce a 
bit of leather, but in reality to plunge it into tho man if ho 
offered violence to me. After my courage had been suffi- 
ciently tested, I beckoned with the head to tho civil head- 
man to remove him; and he did so by drawing him aside. 
This man protended not to know what ho was doing. I 
would fain havo felt his pulse, to ascertain whether the 
violent trembling wore not feigned, but had not much 
inclination to go near the battle-axo again. There was, 
however, a flow of perspiration, and tho excitement con- 
tinued fully half an hour, then gradually ceased. This 
paroxysm is tho direct opposite of hypnotism, and it is 
singular that it has not been tried in Europe as well as 
clairvoyance. This second batch of visitors took no pain# 
to conceal their contempt for our small party, saying to 
each other, in a tone of triumph, “ They aro quite a god- 
send!" — literally, “ God has apportioned them to us.” “ They 
aro lost among tho tribes 1” “ They have wandored in order 
to bo destroyed, and what can they do without shields 
among so many 1 ” Somo of thorn asked if there wore no 
other parties. Sekeletu had ordered my men not to take 
