LOVE OF COUNTRY HOW THEY EAT. 197 



knowledge only one king. But a Damara," they would add, 

 with a contemptuous smile, " when possessed of a few cows, 

 considers himself at once a chieftain." 



The people have also very strong local attachments. At 

 an after period, while Mr. Galton was waiting at St. Helena 

 for a ship to convey him to England, he was told "that 

 slaves were not exported from south of Benguela because they 

 never thrived when taken away, but became home-sick and 

 died." This, no doubt, refers in part to the Ovambo. More- 

 over, though people of every class and tribe are permitted to 

 intermarry with them, they are, in such case, never allowed 

 to leave the country. 



The Ovambo are decidedly hospitable. "We often had the 

 good fortune to partake of their liberality. Their staple food 

 is a kind of coarse stir-about, which is always served hot, 

 either with melted butter or sour milk. 



Being once on a shooting excursion, our guide took us to 

 a friend's house, where we were regaled with the above fare. 

 But, as no spoons accompanied it, we felt at a loss how to set 

 to work. On seeing the dilemma we were in, our host quick- 

 ly plunged his greasy fingers into the middle of the steaming 

 mess, and brought out a handfull, which he dashed into the 

 milk. Having stirred it quickly round with all his might, he 

 next opened his spacious mouth, in which the agreeable mix- 

 ture vanished as if by magic. He finally licked his fingers 

 and smacked his lips with evident satisfaction, looldng at us 

 as much as to say, "That's the 

 trick, my boys!" However un- 

 pleasant this initiation might have 

 appeared to us, it would have been 

 ungrateful, if not offensive, to re- 

 fuse ; therefore w^e commenced in meat-wsh. 

 earnest, according to example, emptying the dish, and occa- 

 sionally burning our fingers, to the great amusement of our 

 swarthy friends. 



