INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. vii 



tracks of the elephant, the travellers resolved on attempting to 

 make their way to Ovampo Land, the nearest country to the 

 northward, of which, and of its inhabitants, the Damaras had 

 given them extraordinary descriptions. 



Their route lay through a wild and desolate country, of which 

 they were the first to give an account. On the way it unfor- 

 tunately happened that the axle-tree of their waggon snapped 

 asunder, which compelled them to leave the vehicle, together 

 with a number of their people, behind, and to prosecute the re- 

 mainder of their jourr.ey with saddle- and pack-oxen. 



In the beginning of May they arrived at Ovampo, the resi- 

 dence of Nangoro, the chief or king ; and, during a six weeks' 

 stay there, Andersson had opportunity to make his observations 

 on the country and its inhabitants. 



It was a question if they should extend their explorations to the 

 not far-distant Cunene River, then all but unknown ; but, partly 

 owing to the disabled state of their oxen, and partly to the many 

 difficulties thrown in the way by the natives, this project was 

 given up, and nothing remained for them but to retrace their 

 steps to the disabled waggon that had been left under the charge 

 of Hans, and which, during their absence, he had succeeded in 

 repairing; and from thence they proceeded to the missionary 

 station of Barmen, which they reached in the beginning of 

 August. 



Galton was now wearied out with the inconveniences attendant 

 on the life of a traveller, and determined on proceeding to Europe 

 by the first opportunity that offered from Walvisch Bay. As, 

 however, no vessel was expected there until December, and they 

 consequently had several months at their disposal, they deter- 

 mined on making an excursion to the eastward, where game was 

 reported to be much more abundant than in the countries they 

 had hitherto traversed. 



After a fatiguing journey the travellers arrived on the 3rd of 

 October at Tunobis, where Andersson for the first time became 



