BASKKX FOn 



BASKET RETURN TO CAMP. 175 



Their articles of barter were spear-heads, knives, rings, cop- 

 per and iron beads, &c., but of exceedingly rude workmanship. 

 Indeed, it was to me a constant wonder how they could per- 

 suade their neighbors to buy such trash. Yet all these things 

 were very dear ; an unfinished assegai-blade or a yard of 

 beads being the regular price for an ox. 



Their merchandise was packed in small square baskets 

 made out of palm-leaves : these were suspended to 

 both ends of the long, smooth, and elastic pole (of 

 palm wood) that each man bore poised on his 

 shoulder. What with their merchandise, provis- 

 ions, water, &c., the weight was often very con- 

 siderable, yet they traveled much faster than our- mekchajjdise. 

 selves. 



They have no idea of making use of oxen for draft, or, 

 perhaps it would be more correct to say, they value these 

 animals too highly to make use of them for such purposes. 



On the 4th of May we returned to our encampment. Hans 

 and Phillippus had killed an elephant during our absence, 

 which highly delighted the Damaras, who had flocked to the 

 neighborhood of Okamabuti in very great numbers. We were 

 sorry to find that our cattle, instead of improving in condi- 

 tion by their rest, were fast losing flesh. This was attribu- 

 ted to the grass hereabout, which was bitter tasted, and to 

 change of pasturage in general. The cattle of the natives 

 were accustomed to every variety of herbage, and did not suf- 

 fer. Sheep, however, failed to thrive here. 



While waiting for the return of the Ovambo traders, who, 

 with the exception of their head man, Chikor'onkombe, had 

 now dispersed over the neighborhood in small bands of two 

 and three, I employed the time in diligently exploring the 

 surrounding country and ascertaining its natural productions, 

 and was fortunate enough to add many an interesting speci- 

 men of insect and bird to my collection. 



The natives were unable to comprehend why I thus col- 



