CLIMATE SEASONS WHIRLWINDS. 217 



the oppressors. In proportion as they grew powerful and 

 successful, the prospect of booty, which the vast herds of 

 sleek cattle so amply afforded them, was the sole object of 

 their inroads upon the Daraaras. They appeared to have 

 adopted the motto of the old sea-kings, 



" That they should take who have the power, 

 And they should keep who can." 



From my first arrival in the country to the time I left it 

 — a period of less than four years — the Namaquas had de- 

 prived the Damaras of fully one half of their cattle, the other 

 portion having already been taken from them previously to 

 my visit. With the loss of their property followed that of 

 their independence. 



Although a large tract of country is marked on the maps 

 as Damara-land, a small portion only is inhabitable. This 

 may also be affirmed of Namaqua-land ; and in both cases 

 the disparity arises either from scarcity of water or the fre- 

 quency of inextricable jungles of thorn-wood. 



Damara-land being situated in the tropic of Capricorn, 

 the seasons are naturally the reverse of those in Europe. 

 In the month of August, when our summer may be said to 

 be at an end, hot westerly winds begin to blow, which quickly 

 parch up and destroy the vegetation. At the same time, 

 whirlwinds sweep over the country with tremendous veloc- 

 ity, driving along vast columns of sand many feet in diame- 

 ter and several hundred in height. At times ten or fifteen 

 of these columns may be seen chasing each other. The 

 Damaras designate them Orukumb'ombura, or rain-beggars, 

 a most appropriate name, as they usually occur just before 

 the first rains fall. 



Showers, accompanied by thunder and vivid lightning, are 

 not unusual in the months of September and October, but 

 the regular rains do not set in till December and January, 

 when they continue with but slight intermission till May. 

 In this month and June strong easterly winds prevail, which 



