The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-01-16
THRILLING ADVENTURES
OF AMERICAN IN SEARCH
OF TALISMANS IN AFRICA
Risked His Life on Many Occa-
sions to Obtain Fetiches from
the Savage Tribes.
JOURNEY IN THE DESERT
Maxwell Sommerville, One of
Greatest Living Psychologists,
Recounts Many Escapes.
JOURNEY IN THE DESERT

jan l0.-AIler WdnutI-
ing over the face Of the earth for nearly
half a century, visiting it's uttermost quar-
ters. living for weeks at a time among
the tribes of the far Eastern countries, and
experiencing hair-breadth escapes among
the wild creatures Of the deserts. Maxwell
sOmmervilIe, one of the greatest living
Psychologists. has returned to Philadelphia
from what he considers the most exciting
and valuable of his many exploring trips
into strange lands.
The object of Prof. SOmmervine's travels
IS the collecting Of weird and interesting
taIismans and fetiches. No journey is too
perilous, no mountain fastness too inaccess-
ible for this interchangeable traveller IL he
knows that his search viii be rewarded by
the finding Of one Of the precious objects.
Made of wood, brass. copper, leather, and
other materials. in all sorts Of odd shapes,
these little trinkets have been worn by the
inhabitants of the old countries since bib
.lical times. They have implicit faith in
the efficacy Of these charms to ward off
all evil, and from the earliest records or
ancient history TO the present day the tails
man and fetch are always mentioned.
Not only the people, but the animals wear
charms. During the camel races small
leather pouches, in which are hidden sacred
writings. are tied about the beasts necks
TO give them good luck IN the race and
protect them from all accidents. Milk
giving goats are always protected by these
little talismans, as well as the beasts OF
burden.
In order to carry out this work success
fully Mr.. SOmmerVille has made his home
among all sorts and conditions Of men,
learning their dialects. becoming familiar
with their strange habits, wearing their
native costumes and studying their traits
There is. perhaps, no greater student of
human nature living to-day than Professor
Sommerville. for the success of his per1louS
JOURNEYS depends entirely upon his knOWI-
edge OF the people with whom he deals.
The story Of his experience in the great
lively unknown, of the princely way in
which ne Travelled in his private caravan,
Ne IN ye,ted ~ senseaIe@e the most
formidable slave hunters i'm western Africa;
the Balantes, whose practice of brigandage
and a dozen other tribes.
His caravan was composed Of more than
twenty servants and guides, sixteen Persian
horses and half a dozen camels.
Already an object Of suspicion with the
natives, Sommerville concealed his identity
burnouse which reached TO the ground, and
he spoke only the dialects of the people
with whom he had to deal. His headquar-
tiers were at the village OF T~ouggOurt, and
thence he made trips into the remote set
tlements of the desert, carrying with him
letters of Introduction from ~Well-knoWn
cadis Of the larger GASES.
GOLD FOR ~ COURT.
At Maggerine, one of the first villages
ne visited. the professor had an exciting
experience, which nearly cost him his life.
as we'll as the lives of his party. AS he
neared the main street Of the village he
came to a little mud hut where he saw a
gourd hanging to the door post. Knowing
it to be a talisman of considerable value,
he and his party approached the hut.
The owner, hearing the commotion out
side. ran to the door. SommerviTle dis
mounted from his horse and. pointing to
the gOurd, began to make tactfUl over
lures for its purchase. He held I'm his
hand a gold piece. lingering it significant
~ as he spoke. Suddenly taking two more
from beneath the folds of his burnouse
he held them out to the native, asking for
the gOurd In return
The owner of the talisman eyed the gold
g~reedily, but his superstitious belief in the
efficacy OF the gOurd TO ward of all evil
was too strong, and he was firm in his re-
fusaL.
Disappointed. the traveller passed on. He
had not gone far when a young woman,
bearing an earthen water jar on her head,
crossed the road. A silk scarf, richly en-
broidered. was swathed about her body.
Above her forehead a tiny object hung-in
the shape of a wOman's hand
1t was one Of the favorite talismans OF
the Kabylians, the tribe inhabiting Mag
gerine. According to the legend Fatima,
the wife of Mohammed, saved the proph-
cts life when the mob was about to impris-
on him. Standing between the angry peo-
pie and their victim, she raised her hand,
stretching in toward them and warning
them not to harm a prophet of God. Over
awed at the sight OF the brave woman who
stood before them so fearlessly, they with
drew and allowed MOhammed to go in
safety.
From that day to this the little hand of
Fatima has been worn to ward of all dan
ger.
this woman remarked Sommerville to the
shiek who accompanied him. "Will you
offer her gold for it?"
S~aluting the woman, the shiek began to
bargain FOR the hand Of Fatima, and with
a little persuasion he succeeded in buying
IT from her.
The party passed on. travelling late into
the night, and all thoughts Of pOssessing-the
gOurd had been given up. But. much to
SOmmerVille'S establishment, one of his
servants came up 10 him the next morning.
holding up 10 his delighted gaze the much
desired talisman.
With grins and eloquent gestures the SER
want described how he had loitered behind
and. watching his opportunity, had cut the
gourd from the string. He had barely fin
horses feet coming swiftly behind them.
and a band OF hOrsemen, headed by a shiek
and the owner of the gOurd. was upon them
demanding the stolen article.
IF you do not yield it at once. we will kill
you and every man in your party threat
To deny the possession Of the gourd was
useless. and the professor explained that it
had been stolen by a servant; that he had
just discovered the theft and was about to
return IT. AT the same time he took a hand
full OF gold from his pockets and began TO
bargain for it. Apparently the owner had
been thinking the matter over during the
night, for when a sum, three times the
original price, was offered. he accepted il.
DEVIL CATCHING FETCH.
Another talisman which SommerviIle
obtained. only st the risk Of being mobbed
by an entire village, was the devil-catching
fetch. This is worn by the Senegalese ON
the western coast OF Africa. 1t is a gro
tesque wooden image, IN whose abdomen
a small mirror is placed. AT night. when
going from one village TO another. the ma
tives carry the image. holding it in front
OF them so that the evil spirit attacking
them, will see his ugly reflection in the
glass and flee in terror.
So great Is the native faith in this little
image that TO part with II is as much as a
mans life is worth. II his companions dis
cover IL. Sommerville. however. persuaded
one OF them to part with his precious image
for the sum OF five dollars. He was show
ing II 70 his friends and receiving cOngratu-
laions upon his success when in some way
the head or the tribe found out about the
transaction, and calling the others that
night. he held a grave consultation with
them.
Although he knew that the fetch was I'm
the possession of the explorer. he could
2 not discover who had sold IL 10 him. There
EnEA InA nHLE 49,