^VELLS VEGETATION GAME. 163 



ing with hippopotami. In seasons when rains are plentiful, 

 these troughs or guUeys fill, and, no doubt, retain the water 

 from one rainy period to another, which enables the animals 

 to travel at their ease to Omanbonde. Indeed, by similar 

 omurambas they have found their way even as far south as 

 Schmelen's Hope. According to Jonker Afrikaner's account, 

 a hippopotamus had taken up its abode at this place, but was 

 at last killed by a sudden inundation of the Swakop. The 

 carcass was washed up at the mouth of the Tjobis, where he 

 saw its remains. 



On a first look at Damara-land, an inexperienced person 

 would '' as soon expect," as Mr. Galton says, " a hippopota- 

 mus to have traveled across the great Sahara as from Oman- 

 bonde to Tjobis." The fact, however, is, that this country, 

 after heavy rains, differs as much from its normal state as a 

 sea-beach when dry and when at spring-tide. 



Little or no rain had fallen this year at Omanbonde, and, 

 consequently, it presented a very dreary and uninteresting 

 appearance. In its bed, however, we discovered several 

 wells, which, together with numerous remains of Damara 

 villages, clearly indicated that the so-called lake was, at 

 times, largely resorted to by the natives. 



The vegetation remained precisely as hitherto, but the 

 thorn coppices were, if possible, thicker and more harassing. 

 The monotony of the scene was somewhat relieved by clumps 

 of very fiiie kameel thorn-trees. 



Game was rather scarce, yet I managed to bag a few red 

 bucks (pallahs) and koodoos. Tracks of giraffes, rhinoce- 

 roses, and elephants were by no means uncommon, but I 

 never had the good fortune to fall in with any of these ani- 

 mals. 



Furious battles are said to take place occasionally between 

 the two last-named ; and though, of course, strength in the 

 elephant is infinitely superior to the rhinoceros, the latter, 

 on account of his swiftness and sudden movements, is by no 



