218 RECONNAISSANCE TO THE SOUTH. [chap. yiii. 
civilized (?) of England, who would convert the black 
savages of Africa. 
Notwithstanding his magic, Katchiba was not a bad 
man: he was remarkably civil, and very proud at my 
having paid him a visit. He gave me much informa¬ 
tion regarding the country, but assured me that I 
should not be able to travel south for many months, 
as it would be quite impossible to cross the Asua river 
during the rainy season; he therefore proposed that I 
should form a camp at Obbo, and reside there until 
the rains should cease. It was now May, thus I was 
invited to postpone my advance south until December. 
I determined to make a reconnaissance south towards 
the dreaded Asua, or, as the Obbo people pronounced 
it, the Achua river, and to return to my fixed camp. 
Accordingly I arranged to leave Mrs. Baker at Obbo 
with a guard of eight men, while I should proceed 
south without baggage, excepting a change of clothes 
and a cooking pot. Katchiba promised to take the 
greatest care of her, and to supply her with all she 
might require; offering to become personally responsible 
for her safety; he agreed to place a spell upon the door 
of our hut, that nothing evil should enter it during my 
absence. It was a snug little dwelling, about nine 
feet in diameter, and perfectly round; the floor well 
cemented with cow-dung and clay, and the walls about 
four feet six inches in height, formed of mud and 
sticks, likewise polished off with cow-dung. The door 
had enlarged, and it was now a very imposing entrance 
of about four feet high, and a great contrast to the 
surrounding hut or dog-kennel with two feet height 
of doorway. 
On the 7th of May I started with three men, and 
taking a course south, I rode through a most lovely 
country, within five miles of the base, and parallel 
with the chain of the Madi mountains. There was 
abundance of beautiful flowers, especially of orchi¬ 
daceous plants ; the country was exceedingly park-like 
and well wooded, but generally overgrown with grass 
