390 
A MORNING CALL IN 0BB0. 
[chap, tx 
circular hut, but about twenty-five feet in diameter. 
Creeping on all fours through the narrow doorway, we 
found ourselves in the presence of one of his wives, 
who was preparing merissa. The furniture of the 
apartment was practical, and quite in accordance with 
the taste of the old chief, as the whole establishment 
appeared to be devoted to brewing merissa. There were 
several immense jars capable of holding about thirty 
gallons : some of these were devoted to beer, while one 
was reserved to contain little presents that he had re¬ 
ceived from ourselves and the Turks, including a much- 
esteemed red flannel shirt; these recherche objects 
were packed in the jar, and covered by a smaller vessel 
inverted on the mouth to protect them from rats and 
white ants. Two or three well-prepared ox-hides were 
spread upon the ground; and he requested Mrs. Baker 
to sit on his right hand, while I sat upon the left. 
Thus satisfactorily arranged, he called for some 
merissa, which his wife immediately brought in an 
immense gourd-shell, and both my wife and I having 
drunk, he took a long draught, and finished the gourd. 
The delightful old sorcerer, determined to entertain 
us, called for his rababa : a species of harp was 
handed to him ; this was formed of a hollow base and 
an upright piece of wood, from which descended 
eight strings. Some time was expended in carefully 
