268 SINGULAR ATTACHMENT IVIKS. RATH. 



bers were so great that the sound caused by their wings re- 

 sembled the distant murmuring of waves on the sea-shore. 

 They always passed in the same direction as the wind blew, 

 and, as numbers were constantly alighting on the flowers, 

 their appearance at such times was not unlike the falling of 

 leaves before a gentle autumnal breeze. 



Every day, at the halting-place, we were in the habit of 

 training some oxen to the "pack" or the saddle. One of 

 the animals particularly captivated my fancy, and I was de- 

 sirous of having him well broken-in. After a little time, 

 however, I learned that no person dared any longer to ap- 

 proach the beast. On inquiring the cause, I found that a 

 large ox had taken it under his protection, so to speak, and 

 would allow no one to go near it. Whenever the servants 

 attempted to catch the 2wotege, his protector would rush at 

 them furiously ; and my favorite was so well aware of this, 

 that as soon as he saw any one approaching, he would run di- 

 rectly to his " father," as the natives not inaptly styled the 

 big ox. After having personally convinced myself of this 

 singular attachment, and dreading that some serious mischief 

 might ensue, I deemed it prudent to kill my poor pet. For 

 many days the "father" appeared inconsolable at his loss. 

 Running wildly about the herd, and smelling first at one and 

 then at the other, he would moan and bellow most piteously. 

 This is another proof of the strong attachment of which the 

 lower animals are capable. I may add that I have frequent- 

 ly seen a sheep, when the butcher has been in the act of kill- 

 ing its comrade, run up to the man and butt at him most 

 viciously. 



On the 5 th of February we found ourselves again at Rich- 

 terfeldt. Mrs. Rath, I was sorry to find, was suffering griev- 

 ously from eye-sickness, so much so that she was unable to 

 bear the least light. Indeed, not long after, the sight of one 

 of her eyes was permanently injured, if not destroyed. 



Here I and Hans separated. While he went into Damara- 



