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438 DTCK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAÎN. Early in the morning of the 25th a great tinkling of bells announced the magician's arrivai at Kazonndé. The natives poured out to meet him on his way to the chitoka, their minds being already predisposed in his favour by a modération of the downpour, aqd by sundry indications of a coming change of wind. The ordinary practice of the professors of the magîcal art is to perambulate the villages in parties of three or four, accompanied by a considérable number of acolytes and assistants. In this case the mganga came entirely alone. He was a pure negro of most imposing stature, more than six feet high, and broad in proportion. Ail over his chest was a fantastic pattern traced in pipe-clay, the lower por- tion of his body being covered with a flowing skiftt)f woven grass, so long that it made a train. Round his neck hung a string of birds' skulls, upon his head he wore a leathem liehnct ornamented with pearls and plumes, and about his waist was a copper girdle, to which was attached bclls that tinkled likc the harncss of a Spanish mule. The only instrument indicating his art was a basket he carried made of a calabash containing shells, amulets, little wooden idols and other fctishcs, together with what was more important than ail, a large number of those balls of dung, without which no Alrican ceremony of divination could ever be complote. One pcculîarity was soon discovered by the crowd ; the mganga was dumb, and could utter only one low, guttural Sound, which was quite unintelligible ; this was a circum- stance, howcver, that seemed only to augment their faith in his powcrs. With a statcly strut that brought ail his tinkling para- phernalia into full play, the magician proceeded to makc the circuit of the markct-place. The natives followed in a troop behind, endcavouring, like monkeys, to imitate his every movement. He turned into the main thoroughfare, and began to make his way direct to the royal résidence, whence. as soon as the queen heard of his approach, she advanced to meet him. On seeing lier, the mgatîga bowed to the very dust ; then, rearing himself to his full height,he