TROPICAL PHENOIMENON. 143 



"The Damaras," they said, "are now watching us from 

 a distance ; and, as soon as we shall have gone to sleep, they 

 will suddenly fall upon us, and assegai us." 



Timbo, John St. Helena, and John Allen evidently be- 

 lieved them, and looked wretchedly uncomfortable. As for 

 myself, though there certainly was nothing at all improba- 

 ble in the story, I felt less apprehensive than annoyed, well 

 knowing the bad effect it would have on the timid and super- 

 stitious minds of my men. 



On the third day, about noon, we reached the northern 

 side of Omatako, where we struck a small periodical river of 

 the same name. To our dismay, however, we found it per- 

 fectly dry ; and, as we had then already been twenty-four 

 hours without a drop of water, I was afraid to proceed any 

 further. Just as we were about to retrace our steps, the 

 river, to our inexpressible delight, came down with a rush. 

 To those of my readers who are not conversant with the mys- 

 teries of a tropical climate, it may appear almost impossible 

 that a dry water-course should in the space of five minutes, 

 and without any previous indication, be converted into a foam- 

 ing torrent ; yet, in the rainy season, this is almost an every- 

 day occurrence. Not a cloud obscured the transparent at- 

 mosphere at the time, but on the preceding night there had 

 been vivid lightning and heavy thunder in the direction of 

 the source of the river, which sufficiently accounted for the 

 phenomenon. 



On this river I saw for the first time the gigantic foot- 

 prints of elephants. The natives told me that these animals 

 come here in great numbers in the winter-time, and when 

 the water begins to diminish they return slowly northward. 

 Hans assured me that their tracks are still to be seen as far 

 south as the River Swakop, close to its embouchure. 



From this point we had a very good prospect of the 

 country. Several interesting mountains presented themselves 

 to the view. To the north, the Konyati, Eshuameno, la 



