196 HONESTY OF THE OVAMBO NO PAUPERISM. 



head a broad and flat look. The persons of the women are 

 also profusely besmeared with grease and red ochre. 



Besides ear-rings of beads or shells, the men display but few 

 ornaments. With regard to clothing, both sexes are far more 

 scantily attired than the Damaras. When grown up, they 

 chip the middle tooth in the under jaw. 



The Ovambo, so far as came under my own observation, 

 were strictly honest. Indeed, they appeared to entertain 

 great horror of theft, and said that a man detected in pil- 

 fering would be brought to the king's residence and there 

 speared to death. In various parts of the country a kind of 

 magistrate is appointed, whose duty is to report all misde- 

 meanors. Without permission, the natives would not even 

 touch any thing, and we could leave our camp free from the 

 least apprehension of being plundered. As a proof of their 

 honesty, I may mention that, when we left the Ovambo 

 country, the servants forgot some trifles, and such was the 

 integrity of the people that messengers actually came after 

 us a very considerable distance to restore the articles left be- 

 hind. In Damara and Namaqua-land, on the contrary, a 

 traveler is in constant danger of being robbed, and, when 

 stopping at a place, it is always necessary to keep the strict- 

 est watch on the movements of the inhabitants. 



But honesty was not the only good quality of this fine race 

 of men. There was no pauperism in the country. Crippled 

 and aged people, moreover, seemed to be carefully tended and 

 nursed. "Wliat a contrast to their neighbors, the Damaras, 

 who, when a man becomes old, and no longer able to shift 

 for himself, carry him into the desert or the forest, where he 

 soon falls a prey to wild beasts, or is left to perish on his 

 own hearth ! Nay, he is often knocked on the head, or oth- 

 erwise put to death. 



The Ovambo are very national, and exceedingly proud of 

 their native soil. They are offended when questioned as to 

 the number of chiefs by whom they are ruled. "We ac- 



