A CHRISTMAS IN THE DESERT. 119 



CHAPTER X. 



A Christmas in the Desert. — Mr. Galton's Return from the Erongo 

 Mountain. — He jjasses numerous Villages. — Great Drought ; the 

 Natives have a Choice of two Evils. — The Hill-Damaras. — The Da- 

 maras a Pastoral People. — The Avhole country Public Property. — 

 Enormous herds of Cattle. — They are as destructive as Locusts to 

 the Vegetation. — Departure from Richterfeldt. — The Author kills 

 an Oryx. — The Oxen refractory. — Danger of traversing dry Water- 

 courses on the approach of the Rainy Season. — Message from the 

 Robber-chief Jonker. — Emeute among the Servants. — Depart for 

 Schmelen's Hope. 



We had now been rather more than four months in the 

 country, and Christmas had imperceptibly stolen upon us. 

 Singularly enough, though I kept a journal, I was not aware 

 of the fact until one morning the men came to wish me a 

 " merry Christmas." A merry Christmas ! alas! there were 

 no merry children — no joyous feast — no Christmas trees or 

 other indication of " the hallowed and gracious time." One 

 day was of the same importance to us as another. Moreover, 

 our store of gi'ocery, &c., was too scant to enable our cook to 

 produce us a plum-pudding, or any of those dainty dishes 

 that even the working-man in civilized countries would be 

 sorry to be without at this season. Fortunately, we had now 

 so accustomed ourselves to "bush-diet," that we did not even 

 feel the want of what others might deem to be the neces- 

 saries of life. Constant exposure to the fresh air and per- 

 petual exercise had so greatly increased our appetites, and 

 improved our digestive powers, that, though we might not, 

 like the natives, demolish a " yard" or so of flesh at a meal, 

 we could, nevertheless, play our part at meals as well as any 

 London alderman ; in fact, we could eat at all times, and 

 scarcely any thing ever came amiss. A draft of water 



