264 
A MORNING CALL IN OBBO . 
[chap. IX. 
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 sor¬ 
cerer, 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, as shown in the accom¬ 
panying sketch. Some time was expended in carefully 
tuning his instrument, which, being completed, he 
asked, 4 if he should sing V Fully prepared for some¬ 
thing comic, we begged him to begin. He sang a 
most plaintive and remarkably wild, but pleasing air, 
accompanying himself perfectly on his harp, producing 
the best music that I had ever heard among savages. 
In fact, music and dancing were old Katchiba’s delight, 
especially if combined with deep potations. His song 
over, he rose from his seat and departed, but presently 
re-appeared, leading a sheep by a string, which he 
begged us to accept. I thanked him for his attention, 
but I assured him that we had not paid him a visit 
with the expectation of receiving a present, and that 
