A PANIC AKKIVAL AT OilUTJAMATUNDA. 183 



Shortly after leaving Otjikoto, and when walking in ad- 

 vance of the caravan, in company with several of the head 

 men of the Ovambo, in the hope of procuring some speci- 

 mens of natural history, I suddenly flushed a brace of sand- 

 grouse, both of which I brought to the ground. The effect 

 produced on my companions was ludicrous in the extremfe. 

 They looked as if they had received an electric shock, and 

 stood aghast, with their mouths wide open. On requesting * 

 them to pick up the dead birds, they absolutely refused, and 

 seemed petrified with fear. Their conduct was the more 

 singular, as, on our first meeting, they had given us to un- 

 derstand that, through the Portuguese, with whom they had 

 indirect intercourse, they were well acquainted with fire-arms, 

 but that they were not afraid of them, as, by simply blowing 

 in the muzzle, they lost all power. 



In the afternoon of the 29th of May we reached Omutja- 

 matunda, the first cattle-post belonging to the Ovambo. On 

 account of this being harvest-time, our friend Chikor'on- 

 kombe did not expect to find many of his countrymen here ; 

 but he was mistaken, for it swarmed with people as well as 

 cattle. The latter I estimated at no less than from three to 

 four thousand. 



Immediately on our arrival we were surrounded by great 

 numbers of inquisitive people, who looked upon the European 

 portion of our party as some rarce aves. They appeared to 

 be gratified at seeing their countrymen safe home again, and 

 expressed much admiration at the fine herd of sleek cattle 

 they had brought with them. 



The way of welcoming friends among the Ovambo is 

 somewhat singular. In our case, after every one was seated 

 an immense dish of fresh butter was produced, when the head 

 man of the post besmeared the face and breast of each indi- 

 vidual with an abundance of the unction. The ceremony be- 

 ing satisfactorily performed on their own friends and kins- 

 men, it became evident that they contemplated the same 



