198 LOOSE MORALS RULE OF SUCCESSION. 



Although generally very rich in cattle, and fond of animal 

 diet, their beasts would seem to be kept rather for show than 

 for food. When an ox is killed, the greater portion of the 

 animal is disposed of by the owner to the neighbors, who 

 give the produce of their ground in exchange. 



The morality of the Ovambo is very low, and polygamy 

 is practiced to a great extent. A man may have as many 

 wives as he can afford to keep ; but, as with the Damaras, 

 there is always one who is the favorite and the highest in 

 rank. Woman is looked upon as a mere commodity — an 

 article of commerce. If the husband be poor, the price of a 

 wife is two oxen and one cow ; but should his circumstances 

 be tolerably flourishing, three oxen and two cows will be ex- 

 pected. The chief, however, is an exception to this rule. 

 In his case, the honor of an alliance with him is supposed to 

 be a sufficient compensation. Our fat friend Nangoro had 

 largely benefited by this privilege ; for, though certainly far 

 behind the King of Dahomey in regard to the number of 

 wives, yet his harem boasted of one hundred and six enchant- 

 ing beauties ! 



In case of the death of the king, the son of his favorite 

 wife succeeds him ; but if he has no male issue by this woman, 

 her daughter then assumes the sovereignty. The Princess 

 Chipanga was the intended successor to Nangoro. My friend 

 thought that his bearded face had made an impression on 

 this amiable lady ; but, though experience has since taught 

 us that he was by no means averse to matrimony, he pre- 

 ferred to settle his affections on one of his own fair country- 

 women rather than marry the "greasy negress" Chipanga, 

 heiress of Ondonga. 



We read of nations who are supposed to be destitute of 

 any religious principles whatever. If we had placed reliance 

 on what the natives themselves told us, we should have set 

 down the Ovambo as one of such benighted races. But can 

 there be so deplorable a condition of the human mind ? Does 



