182 LARGE FLOCK OF DOVES THORNS. 



some of the latter, which I saw clinging to the rocks, I found, 

 to my surprise, that they were dead, and had probably been 

 so for many years ; at least they had all the appearance of 

 mummies. 



Otjikoto contained an abundance of fish somewhat resem- 

 bling perch, but those we caught were not much larger than 

 one's finger. One day we had several scores of these little 

 creatures for dinner, and very palatable they proved. 



In the morning and evening Otjikoto was visited by an 

 incredible number of doves, some of which were most deli- 

 cately and beautifully marked. On such occasions the wood 

 resounded with their cooing ; but when disturbed, as they fre- 

 quently were, by the invasion of a hawk, the noise caused by 

 their precipitate flight was like that of a sudden rush of wind. 



Many Bushmen resided near Otjikoto, and, as every 

 where else in these regions, they lived on excellent terms with 

 the Ovambo, to whom they brought copper ore for sale, 

 which they obtained from the neighboring hills. Indeed, as 

 our acquaintance with the Ovambo increased, we were more 

 and more favorably impressed with their character. They 

 treated all men equally well, and even the so much despised 

 Hottentots ate out of the same dish and smoked out of the 

 same pipe as themselves. 



We only staid a day at Otjikoto. The next morning, 

 after a few hours' travel, we lost sight of all landmarks, and 

 were now making our way through dense thorn coppices, 

 which harassed and delayed us exceedingly. To say nothing 

 of tearing our clothes to rags, they now and then extracted 

 some article from the saddle-bags. Of the regular Ovambo 

 caravan route all traces had been obliterated, and we now 

 first began to understand and appreciate the difficulties that 

 would have beset us had we tried to prosecute the journey 

 alone. Indeed, without the most experienced guides, it 

 would have been an utterly hopeless task. The watering- 

 places, moreover, were very few, and scattered over an im- 

 mense extent of country, which was dreary in the extreme. 



