208 GAME SCARCE BUSHMEN GUIDES. 



ing been the most importunate of the whole lot. Moreover, 

 he had not paid his debt, nor would he sell Hans any more 

 cattle ; and, as there was then very little game in the neigh- 

 borhood, they were so pressed for food that Hans was obliged 

 to reduce the men's allowances very considerably. Our Da- 

 oiara servants lived for some time solely on such birds and 

 small animals as they could kill by means of the dogs. For- 

 tunately, Hans possessed some tobacco; and, while the na- 

 tives refused every thing else, he was able to obtain a few 

 sheep for this article, v/hich proved a most opportune supply. 



Not many days previous to our arrival eight Damara wom- 

 en had been surprised by the Bushmen and unmercifully put 

 to death. This, however, was not to be wondered at, for the 

 Damaras themselves are always waging an exterminating 

 war on the Bushmen. Indeed, they hunt them down, wher- 

 ever met with, like wild beasts. 



Hans had succeeded in repairing the wagon most satis- 

 factorily ; and the oxen, though rather lean, were in tolera- 

 bly good working order. We now determined to turn our 

 faces homeward without a moment's delay. A very few 

 days were sufficient to enable us to complete the final prepa- 

 rations. 



By this time all the pools of rain-water which had be- 

 friended us on our journey northward were dried up, and it 

 would therefore have been impossible to retrace our steps 

 by the same route. The Damaras strongly advised us to 

 strike the Omuramba-k' Omatako at a certain point, and 

 hj following its course they assured us we should find water 

 and pasturage in abundance. One man, in particular, who 

 had always shown himself civil and obliging, offered to act 

 as guide the first part of the way ; for the remainder we 

 secured the services of a lad professing to be well acquainted 

 with the country. Having on so many occasions been de- 

 ceived by the natives, we did not much relish the idea oi' 

 again trusting ourselves to their guidance. However, there 



