186 "salt-pans" A SAVANNA. 



for the agreeable feeling I had at first experienced. On the 

 fire coming into contact with my body-linen, however, the 

 lulling sensation was changed into one of torment. Hans 

 had had a similar accident at Schmelen's Hope, on which 

 occasion almost the whole of the skins, &c., spread beneath 

 him were consumed before he was aware of what had hap- 

 pened. From that day forward, as may be supposed, I al- 

 ways made my bed far away from the fire. 



On the last day of May we were again on the move. Mes- 

 sengers were started in advance to apprise King Nangoro of 

 our approach, and to convey to him a few trifling presents. 

 They would probably reach his capital in about two days. 



In the course of the first day's journey we traversed an 

 immense hollow, called Etosha, covered with saline incrus- 

 tations, and having wooded and well-defined borders. Such 

 places are in Africa designated " salt-pans." The surface 

 consisted of a soft, greenish-yellow clay soil, strewed with 

 fragments of small sandstone of a purple tint. Strange to 

 relate, we had scarcely been ten minutes on this ground 

 when the lower extremities of ourselves and cattle became of 

 the same purple color. In some rainy seasons, the Ovambo 

 informed us, the locality was flooded, and had all the appear- 

 ance of a lake ; but now it was quite dry, and the soil strong- 

 ly impregnated with salt. Indeed, close in shore, this com- 

 modity was to be had of a very pure quality. 



At night we bivouacked on the southern extremity of a 

 boundless savanna, called Otjihako-tja-Muteya, totally des- 

 titute of trees, and even bushes. The natives were unable to 

 give us an idea of its real extent ; but, as far as we could 

 learn, it reached to the sea on the west. Like Etosha, it 

 had distinct and wooded borders. 



The second of June will ever be remembered by us. On 

 the afternoon of that day we first set eye on the beautiful and 

 fertile plains of Ondonga, the country of the Ovambo. Vain 

 would be any attempt to describe the sensations of delight 



