PREFACE. 



The following Narrative of Explorations and Dis- 

 coveries during four years in the wilds of the south- 

 western parts of Africa contains the account of two ex- 

 peditions in that continent between the years 1850 and 

 1854. In the first of these journeys, the countries of 

 the Damaras (previously all but unknown in Europe) 

 and of the Ovambo (till now a terra incognito) were 

 explored; in the second, the newly-discovered Lake 

 Ngami was reached by a route that had always been 

 deemed impracticable. It is more than probable that 

 this route (the shortest and best) wiU be adopted as the 

 one by which commerce and civilization may eventual- 

 ly find their way to the Lake regions. 



The first journey was performed in company with 

 Mr. Francis Galton, to whom we are indebted for a 

 work on " Tropical South iVfrica ;" on the second the 

 Author was alone, and altogether dependent on his own 

 very scanty resources. 



It was suggested to the Author, as regards the first 

 journey, that, from the ground having been preoccu- 

 pied, it would be best for him to commence where his 

 friend left off. There was some reason for this ; but, 

 on mature consideration, he deemed it desirable to start 

 from the beginning, otherwise he could not have given 



