120 
NATIVE DOCTORS. 
animosity entertained by enlightened men of the day 
in our own country, against one of the greatest medical 
discoveries ever promulgated to the world. Upwards 
of half a century has passed away, and the prejudice 
against vaccination has not altogether disappeared 
with time. I have said, many of the African mothers 
wore doubtful of this new remedy, but great numbers 
staid and submitted their children to the operation, 
when its simplicity and after benefits were clearly ex- 
plained to them. 
Although the practice of medicine is in the lowest 
state of degradation, clouded with all possible super- 
stitions, yet its professors, the mallams, are well pro- 
vided for, and are even looked up to ; especially in the 
Nufi and Kakanda countries. The mallams (chiefly 
from Rabbah,) profess to teach Mohammedanism, and 
to practice the liealing art. Charms in the form of 
scraps from the Koran, are resorted to in all cases of 
difficulty. They circumcise and scarify when there is 
any local pain in the fevers of the country. This ritual 
is performed at an early age. Their sole instrument 
is a country razor. The mallams are paid according 
to the circumstances of the patients. At Bgga, I 
understand a sheep, a goat, and several thousand 
cowries are often the “fee” for one operation. It is 
through the mallarfis that I entertain strong hopes of 
extending vaccination throughout Africa, at all events, 
along the banks of the Niger. Desirous as they are 
