There are to be found even yet traces of the high position from which the Africans have fallen in their degradation. One of these traces is the universal belief in a God or gods. This, of course, is no such exalted idea of a Supreme Being as is to be found among Christian nations or even among the better nations of heathens, but still it is a Great One in whom they believe. This belief is not the result of reasoning, of observation of the powers of nature or of study of their own human nature, but is an inborn conception. Apart from revelation, apart from argument, from cause and effect, from design, from government or from anything else, men must believe in a God or gods. Hence we are not astonished at finding that among all the Africans there is this belief. Many of their ideas of God are horrible, shocking and revolting, others again attach no evil ideas to their gods, but exalt them in a very high degree. PRAYING FOR RAIN. In South-eastern Africa, along the Zambesi River, the people pray to a god, with whom they connect no impure traditions or degraded worship. When in danger of war or famine, they appeal to this god. They call him Mpambi. The worship is of this kind: When famine is threatened because rain is withheld, the people of a village resort to a cleared space of ground, inclosed by a fence. Here a _prayer-hut_ is erected. Women and men worship together. Generally a princess having in one hand a basket containing Indian corn-meal, and in the other a pot of native beer, or Pombi, goes into the hut, where she can be seen and heard. She puts the basket and jar on either side of her and sprinkling a handful of meal on the floor, cries, “Imva Mpambi, Adza moula!” (Hear, O God, and send rain!) The people respond by gently clapping their hands and chanting, Hear, O God! This is repeated until all the meal is used up. Then the jar of Pombi is emptied on the floor. The woman then comes out of the hut, closing the door. Throwing themselves upon their backs, she and the people unite in praying “Hear, O God, send rain!” Then she arises, washes herself in a jar of water which stands before the chief. Then all the women take their calabash cups and throw the water into the air, with frantic gesticulations.