chap, viii.] KATCHIBA “ALWAYS AT HOME.’ 
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sionals even in sorcery. His subjects have the most 
thorough confidence in his power ; and so great is his 
reputation that distant tribes frequently consult him, 
and beg his assistance as a magician. In this manner 
does old Katchiba hold his sway over his savage, but 
credulous people; and so long has he imposed upon 
the public that I believe he has at length imposed 
upon himseli, and that he really believes that he has 
the power of sorcery, notwithstanding repeated failures. 
In order to propitiate him, his people frequently pre¬ 
sent him with the prettiest of their daughters; and so 
constantly is he receiving additions to his domestic 
circle that he has been obliged to extend his estab¬ 
lishment to prevent domestic fracas among the ladies. 
He has accordingly hit upon the practical expedient 
of keeping a certain number of wives in each of his 
villages : thus, when he makes a journey through his 
territory, he is always at home. This multiplicity of 
wives has been so successful that Katchiba has one 
hundred and sixteen children living—another proof 
of sorcery in the eyes of his people. One of his wives 
had no children, and she came to me to apply for 
medicine to correct some evil influence that had lowered 
her in her husband’s estimation. The poor woman was 
in great distress, and complained that Katchiba was 
very cruel to her because she had been unable to make 
