# Congo Magic explained — Jibby Jones

> Chapter companion for Jibby Jones by Ellis Parker Butler.

## What happens

Jibby Jones uses a mock Congo magic ritual to distract and delay the bullying Romer brothers, Cawl and Hen, from stealing Uncle Beeswax's wild grapes. By secretly attaching his trotline to the skiff's keel with screw eyes, he makes the boat nearly impossible to row, buying time for Uncle Beeswax to arrive and claim the grapes.

## Themes in this chapter

### Cleverness vs. Brawn

Jibby's clever use of a trotline and screw eyes outwits the physically stronger Romer brothers, demonstrating that ingenuity can overcome brute force.

### Deception and Trust

Jibby's fake Congo magic ritual deceives the Romers into believing in a supernatural spell, while the real trick relies on a hidden mechanical setup.

## Character check-ins

### Jibby Jones

Devises a clever trick using a trotline and screw eyes to slow the Romer brothers' skiff, pretending to perform Congo magic.

### Cawl Romer

One of the bullying Romer brothers; he is suspicious of Jibby's magic but becomes increasingly worried as the boat refuses to move.

### Hen Romer

The other Romer brother; he is more superstitious than Cawl and believes Jibby has put a spell on the boat.

### Uncle Beeswax

Arrives in time to claim the wild grapes after Jibby's trick delays the Romers.

### Tad Willing

Narrator of the chapter; participates in the mock magic and later explains the trick to the others.

## Key lines

> A black feather is one of the things the natives use for bad magic. They use a black feather when they want to spoil an enemy's plans.

Jibby explains that in Congo tradition, a black feather is employed in harmful magic to thwart an adversary's schemes.

_Sets up the chapter's central ruse._

> I don't know what a fellow with a nose like that can do,

Hen expresses his unease about Jibby's unusual appearance, hinting at his superstitious fear.

_Highlights the Romers' growing belief in Jibby's magic._

> I had the screw eyes. … And I had the trotline. … And I had the skiff. … Well, what else could anybody do with a couple of screw eyes and a trotline and a skiff?

Jibby explains his simple yet effective trick: he used the screw eyes to attach the trotline to the skiff, making it drag and slow the boat.

_Reveals the practical ingenuity behind the apparent magic._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/jibby_jones_se/chapters/xvi-congo-magic
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/jibby_jones_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/jibby_jones_se/chapters