His success in inducing Bubi's people to dig a canal was contrasted in a characteristic passage of a private letter, with the experience of others.
"The doctor and the rainmaker among these people are one and the same person.

As I did not like to be behind my professional brethren, I declared I could make rain too, not, however, by enchantments like them, but by leading out their river for irrigation.

The idea pleased mightily, and to work we went instanter.

Even the chief's own doctor is at it, and works like a good fellow, laughing heartily at the cunning of the 'foreigner' who can make rain so.

We have only one spade, and this is without a handle; and yet by means of sticks sharpened to a point we have performed all the digging of a pretty long canal.