xiv INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. 



desert. They had been two days without water; and though 

 the guides were threatened with death, they were unable to 

 direct them to the precious liquid. On the third day Andersson 

 and his people separated, and searched in different directions 

 for water ; but not a single drop was to be found in the then 

 totally burnt-up country. To escape, therefore, from perishing 

 by thirst no other alternative was left them but to retrace their 

 steps, which they commenced doing without further delay ; and 

 at length, worn out with fatigue and languishing for water, of 

 which they had then been destitute for six whole days, the 

 caravan found its way back to Okova fountain. 



Andersson now saw the impossibility of proceeding through 

 western Damara Land to the river Cunene. He nevertheless 

 did not give up the project of penetrating to that river, and 

 only altered his plans so far as to proceed in an easterly direc- 

 tion, where it was known that running water was to be met 

 with. 



Shortly afterwards, however, the waggon broke down and 

 Andersson was under the necessity of sending it to Objimbinque 

 for the needful repairs, with orders to the people in charge of it 

 to rejoin the expedition with the vehicle at a distant point on 

 the river Omuramba-Matako ; and subsequently the journey 

 was continued with saddle- and pack-oxen. 



Game was now met with in abundance, and Andersson was 

 very successful in hunting. One day he shot two giraffes, though 

 not aware of having killed more than a single one. It happened 

 thus : The first he fired at fell within a very short distance ; but 

 as another giraffe started off from the very same spot he 

 imagined it to be the same animal, and pursued it ; and it was 

 not until this had also succumbed, that he discovered the 

 mistake. 



He was now enabled to renew his night hunts. After long 

 fatiguing marches during burning hot days, it was truly no 

 child's play thus to lie out on the watch ; but in this kind of 



