chap, yin,] CEREMONY AT PARTING WITH KATCHIBA . 335 
vicious horse, and the natives were afraid to touch 
him ; they had accordingly driven him before them 
until they gained the path, which he then gladly 
followed. The saddle was in its place, but my sword 
was gone. 
The rains were terrific; the mornings were invari¬ 
ably fine, but the clouds gathered upon the mountains 
soon after noon and ended daily in a perfect deluge. 
Not being able to proceed south, I determined to 
return to my head-quarters at Latooka, and to wait 
for the dry season. I had made the reconnaissance to 
Farajoke, in latitude 3° 32", and I saw my way clear 
for the future, provided my animals should remain in 
good condition. Accordingly, on the 21st of May, we 
started for Latooka in company with Ibrahim and his 
men, who were thoroughly sick of the Obbo climate. 
Before parting, a ceremony had to be performed by 
Katchiba. His brother was to be our guide, and he 
was to receive power to control the elements as deputy- 
magician during the journey, lest we should be wetted 
by the storms, and the torrents should be so swollen 
as to be impassable. 
With great solemnity Katchiba broke a branch from 
a tree, upon the leaves of which he spat in several 
places. This branch, thus blessed with holy water, 
was laid upon the ground, and a fowl was dragged 
