"This is Heaven," he said glibly, in his own tongue.
"Spirits, ascend it!" Felix, much wondering what the ceremony could mean, mounted the platform without a word, in obedience to the chief's command, closely followed by Muriel, who dared not leave him for a second.
"Bring water!" the chief said, shortly, in a voice of authority to one of his followers.
The man handed up a calabash with a little water in it.

The chief took the rude vessel from his hands in a reverential manner, and poured a few drops of the contents on Felix's head; the water trickled down over his hair and forehead.

Involuntarily, Felix shook his head a little at the unexpected wetting, and scattered the drops right and left on his neck and shoulders.

The chief watched this performance attentively with profound satisfaction.

Then he turned to his attendants.
"The spirit shakes his head," he said, with a deeply convinced air.