120 THE EKONGO MOUNTAIN. 



from the pure spring, and a piece of dried meat just warmed 

 in the hot ashes, was as much relished by us as a glass of 

 sparkling pale ale and a slice of Yorkshire ham would have 

 been in Europe. 



In this way we managed to live on cheerfully and agree- 

 ably ; yet thoughts of home, with all its comforts, and friends 

 dear to memory, would now and then flash across our minds. 

 Such reflections, however, we tried to avoid, as they only 

 served to saddea us. 



On the morning of the 26th of December Galton return- 

 ed from his excursion to Erongo. He had been suffering from 

 fever, and was rio-ht o-lad to find himself safe back at the en- 

 campment. The trip had been rather satisfactory. The 

 chief result of it was an addition of about twenty oxen, and 

 double- that number of sheep and goats, to our live-stock. We 

 were now pretty well provided against all emergences, at 

 least for some time to come. Galton had, moreover, ascend- 

 ed the mountain, with which he expressed himself much 

 struck and pleased. He fully corroborated the story of the 

 natives as to its impregnability, for it was accessible only 

 in one or two places, and these could easily be defended 

 against a whole army by a mere handful of men. 



In round numbers, it was about three thousand feet above 

 the level of the plain, and extended in a straight line upward 

 of fifteen miles. The vegetation appeared very much the 

 same as elsewhere in Damara-land, but perhaps more rank- 

 The wild fig-tree grew rather plentifully among the crevices 

 of the rocks, and the travelers obtained an abundance of the 

 fruit, which was very palatable. 



Erongo was only inhabited by Hill-Damaras, under the 

 rule of different petty chiefs. From all accounts, they were 

 possessed of numerous herds of cattle ; but my friend only 

 saw their tracks, as the natives were unwilling to sell or to 

 exhibit any of the animals. They waged an exterminating 

 war with the Damaras, who lived in the plains below, and. 



