It was on the 25th of June, in the morning, that the new magician suddenly announced his arrival at Kazounde with great ringing of bells.

This sorcerer came straight to the “tchitoka,” and immediately the crowd of natives rushed toward him.  The sky was a little less rainy, the wind indicated a tendency to change, and those signs of calm, coinciding with the arrival of the magician, predisposed the minds of the natives in his favor.

Besides, he was a superb man—­a black of the finest water.  He was at least six feet high, and must be extraordinarily strong.  This prestige already influenced the crowd.

Generally, the sorcerers were in bands of three, four, or five when they went through the villages, and a certain number of acolytes, or companions, made their cortege.  This magician was alone.  His whole breast was zebraed with white marks, done with pipe clay.  The lower part of his body disappeared under an ample skirt of grass stuff, the “train” of which would not have disgraced a modern elegant.  A collar of birds’ skulls was round his neck; on his head was a sort of leathern helmet, with plumes ornamented with pearls; around his loins a copper belt, to which hung several hundred bells, noisier than the sonorous harness of a Spanish mule:  thus this magnificent specimen of the corporation of native wizards was dressed.

All the material of his art was comprised in a kind of basket, of which a calebash formed the bottom, and which was filled with shells, amulets, little wooden idols, and other fetiches, plus a notable quantity of dung balls, important accessories to the incantations and divinatory practises of the center of Africa.

One peculiarity was soon discovered by the crowd.  This magician was dumb.  But this infirmity could only increase the consideration with which they were disposed to surround him.  He only made a guttural sound, low and languid, which had no signification.  The more reason for being well skilled in the mysteries of witchcraft.

The magician first made the tour of the great place, executing a kind of dance which put in motion all his chime of bells.  The crowd followed, imitating his movements—­it might be said, as a troop of monkeys following a gigantic, four-handed animal.  Then, suddenly, the sorcerer, treading the principal street of Kazounde, went toward the royal residence.

As soon as Queen Moini had been informed of the arrival of the new wizard, she appeared, followed by her courtiers.

The magician bowed to the ground, and lifted up his head again, showing his superb height.  His arms were then extended toward the sky, which was rapidly furrowed by masses of clouds.  The sorcerer pointed to those clouds with his hand; he imitated their movements in an animated pantomime.  He showed them fleeing to the west, but returning to the east by a rotary movement that no power could stop.

Then, suddenly, to the great surprise of the town and the court, this sorcerer took the redoubtable sovereign of Kazounde by the hand.  A few courtiers wished to oppose this act, which was contrary to all etiquette; but the strong magician, seizing the nearest by the nape of the neck, sent him staggering fifteen paces off.