76 EETUKN TO SCHEPPMANSDOEF. 



every article of our dress. Unfortunately, in the early part 

 of the night we had purposely left the wagon-track to save 

 a very circuitous part of the road, and we had now nothing 

 to guide us. Still, we toiled on as well as we could. 



But we had great difficulty in getting the poor Damaras 

 to keep pace with us, who, being naked, suffered extremely. 

 Every ten minutes they would lie down on the cold sand, 

 perfectly indifferent to the consequences. If we had not 

 used the utmost vigilance in keeping them moving, I am 

 quite convinced that some of them would have perished. 

 Toward morning the cold became so intense that I was no 

 longer capable of holding the reins, and therefore dismount- 

 ed and proceeded on foot. Daybreak brought no relief, for 

 the fog still prevented us from ascertaining our position. The 

 instinct of the oxen, however, came to our rescue, and, by 

 giving them their own way, they soon took us safely to our 

 destination. 



CHAPTER VI. 



Ketwrn to Scheppmansdorf. — Training Oxen for the Yoke. — Sporting. 

 — The Flamingo. — The Butcher-bird : curious Superstition regard- 

 ing it. — Preparing for Journey. — Servants described. 



Mr. and Mks. Bam and their family were, I was glad to 

 find, in good health, and, as heretofore, they gave me not 

 only a most kind reception, but placed at my disposal the 

 best of every thing which the house afforded. 



It is wonderful what habit and association will effect. 

 When I visited Scheppmansdorf in the first instance, I 

 thought it the most dismal spot that human eye ever rested 

 on; but in the short space of a few weeks it had almost 

 become endeared to me. I found what Shakspeare calls the 

 " soul of goodness in things evil." Dreariness was softened 

 down into peaceful seclusion; the savage country round 



