ASCEND ESHUAMENO MOUNTAIN. 153 



guage it is called Onguirira, and would, as far as I could see, 

 have answered the description of a puma. As it was going 

 straight away from me, I did not think it prudent to fire. 



Immense quantities of game were now observed, but the 

 country was open and ill adapted for stalking, and, having 

 no horses, it was difficult to get within range. A few spring- 

 boks, however, were killed. I also shot a hartebeest ; but, 

 having been obliged to leave it for about an hour, I found, on 

 my return, that it had been entirely devoured by vultures ; 

 but as they could not manage to eat the bones, our men con- 

 soled themselves by sucking them. The flesh of the harte- 

 beest is considered extremely palatable. 



The next day we rounded the cones of Omatako ; but, to 

 my great astonishment, the river of that name, although run- 

 ning breast-high on my visit to it about a fortnight previous- 

 ly, was now perfectly dry. Fortunately, a pool still remain- 

 ed on its left bank. 



The estimate of the Damaras as to the distance between 

 the mountains Omatako and Omuvereoom, of which mention 

 was recently made, was now reduced from ten to three long 

 days' journey. These men still said that the intervening 

 country was destitute of water. We dared no longer trust 

 to their conflicting and unsatisfactory accounts ; but, in order 

 to enable us to judge in a measure for ourselves, Galton rode 

 to the neighboring mountain, Eshuameno, whence, from its 

 advanced and isolated position, a good view of the country 

 was likely to be obtained. After the absence of a day and 

 a night, he returned with favorable news. By means of a 

 rough triangulation, he had ascertained that Omuvereoom 

 could not possibly be distant above twelve or fourteen hours' 

 traveling. To the north and west of Omuvereoom the coun- 

 try appeared as one unbounded plain, only covered by brush- 

 wood. Eastward grass and trees were abundant. This, to- 

 gether with a timely fall of rain, at once determined us to 

 make the attempt. 



G2 



