CHAP. VIII.] 
THE GREAT MAGICIAN. 
321 
father’s power of sorcery, and their influence as head 
men of their villages increased the prestige of the 
parent. Although without an idea of a Supreme 
Being, the whole country bowed down to sorcery. 
It is a curious distinction between faith and credulity; 
—these savages, utterly devoid of belief in a Deity, 
and without a vestige of superstition, believed most 
devotedly that the general affairs of life and the 
control of the elements were in the hands of their old 
chief, and therefore they served him—not with a feel¬ 
ing of love, neither with a trace of religion, but with 
that material instinct that ahvays influences the 
savage ; they propitiated him for the sake of what 
they could obtain. It is this almost unconquerable 
feeling, ever present in the savage mind, that renders 
his conversion difficult; he will believe in nothing, 
unless he can obtain some specific benefit from the 
object of his belief. 
Savages can be ruled by two powers—“ force,” and 
“ humbug; ” accordingly, these are the instruments 
made use of by those in authority : where the “ force ” 
is wanting, “humbug” is the weapon as a “pis aller.” 
Katchiba having no physical force, adopted cunning, 
and the black art controlled the savage minds of his 
subjects. Strange does it appear, that these uncivilized 
inhabitants of Central Africa should, although devoid 
VOL. I. Y 
