214 RETURN TO BARMEN THE DAMARAS. 



On the 26th of July we came in sight of Omatako, and 

 many other well known hills. On the 3d of August we 

 found ourselves at Schmelen's Hope ; but how different an 

 iispect did it present to that which lived in our memory ! 

 When we left it about three months previously, the country 

 was covered with the most luxuriant vegetation. Since 

 then, the Damaras had been encamping there with their cat- 

 tle, and we were now unable to obtain sufficient pasturage 

 for our animals. The water, moreover, was all but exhausted. 



On the following day, the 4th of August, we continued 

 our journey to Barmen, where we arrived on the afternoon 

 of the same day safe and well. 



Thus ended an expedition which, although it might not 

 have been so successful as we had anticipated, was not with- 

 out its fruits. 



CHAPTER XVni. 



The Damaras. — Whence they came. — Their Conquests. — The Tide 

 tm*ns. — Damara-land only partially inhabited. — Climate. — Sea- 

 sons. — Mythology. — Religion. — Superstitions. — Marriage. — Poly- 

 gamy. — Children. — Circumcision. — Buiy their Dead. — Way they 

 mourn. — Children interred alive. — Burial of the Chief, and Super- 

 stitions consequent thereon. — Maladies. — Damaras do not live long; 

 the Cause thereof. — Food. — Music and Dancing. — How they swear. 

 — Power of the Chieftain limited. — Slothful People. — Numerals. — 

 Astronomy. — Domestic Animals ; their Diseases. 



Frequent opportunities had by this time been afforded me 

 of observing and studying the physical features of the coun- 

 try, the character of the natives, and their religious rites and 

 customs. Having previously said but little on these sub- 

 jects, I propose now to give some account of them. Though, 

 from the lying habits of the Damaras, great difficulty ha,«^ 

 arisen in arriving at the truth, I believe that my statements 

 will not be very wide of the mark. Besides the concurrent 



