DEPARTURE FROM SCHEPPMANSDORF. 83 



acquainted with many, he spoke none well. Still, his speech 

 was remarkably fluent, and nothing brought it forth with 

 such abundant fervor as when mention was made of his own 

 country. This was like touching an electric rod, and he 

 spoke in ecstasies. No European could take more pride in 

 his native soil than this man did in his ; and if the rest of 

 his countrymen resembled him, they must indeed have been 

 a fine race of men, and, undoubtedly, capable of a very high 

 degree of cultivation. 



CHAPTER VII. 



Departure from Scheppmansdorf. — Cattle refractory at starting. — 

 Tineas. — Always travel by Night. — Khinoceros Hunt. — The Au- 

 thor in danger of a second Sun-stroke. — Reach Onanis. — A Tribe 

 of Hill-Damaras settled there. — Singular Manner in which these 

 People smoke. — Effects of the Weed. — The Euphorbia Candela- 

 brum. — Remarkable Properties of this vegetable Poison. — Guinea- 

 fowl: the best Manner of shooting them. — Meet a troop of Gi- 

 raffes."^ — Tjobis Fountain again. — Attacked by Lions. — Providential 

 Escape. — Arrival at Richterfeldt. 



After only three weeks' stay at Scheppmansdorf, and 

 though our oxen were but partially broken-in, Hans one day 

 informed me that we might set out in safety. Accordingly, 

 the final arrangements were hastily completed, and on the 

 13th of November I once more bade farewell to the place, 

 and its kind, obliging, and hospitable inhabitants. 



At first starting, and while the sand was very deep and 

 yielding, the oxen caused us much trouble ; but when we 

 were on the hard and firm Naarip, all went well, and we 

 arrived at the Usab gorge, where we encamped, without far- 

 ther inconvenience than passing a cold and sleepless night. 



The next evening we resumed our journey, but, instead 

 of following the course of the Swakop — which, with our 

 young oxen and heavy wagons, would have been next to im- 



