224 Life and Letters of Francis 



just in time to receive it only slantingly, so that the skin was not broken. All this 

 breaking work my new man Hans, under Andersson's management did. Of the three 

 men who were chiefly mutinous and who also were convicted of stealing, one went away, 

 and Andersson flogged the two others most severely and with the best effect and now 

 everybody works well and willingly. Waggons and all are brought here, and we shall 

 soon start. The murdering and stealing of the Namaquas against the Danuims is 

 horrible, they cut off the hands and feet to get the iron bracelets. About 25 thousand 

 head of cattle have just been stolen. I have been diplomatising, in pursuance of my 

 instructions, but with very little effect, and must now push my way between all these 

 ruffians. The only fear I have is of the oxen being stolen at night, when we should 

 have to walk, which is very severe work in this weather, but go I will, and we are 

 strong enough to astonish a great number of the natives, if we blaze at them. My 

 remaining horse and 3 mules have died of the horse distemper. I have now 5 mules and 

 51 Oxen. My cart I shall leave behind as it is hardly strong enough. Andersson went 

 down to fetch the waggons with most of the men and shot a rhinoceros but there is 

 very little game, and now, as I have to hunt entirely on foot, I seldom go out, it is no 

 joke in this weather. I have picked up a little of the Ovaherero language, which 

 is spoken most extensively I find. I go northwards and shall thence probably get 

 a letter to you, through the Portuguese. Every step now is exploring. The season 

 is now unfortunately at its dryest, but I think I shall get on. Ten days journey to the 

 North, will put me beyond all desert and among kindly negroes who garden and plant. 

 My black man speaks very fairly the language, it is so like to his own. Where I shall 

 next be heard of, if not through the Portuguese, I can give you no idea, I have of 

 course received no letter whatever from England, since I left it. This goes by a kind 

 of clubbed up post, from Missionary Station to Station. The map I sent you, turns out 

 to be simply traced from an English map made by a theorising map maker, which the 

 Missionary had. He adopted the outline, just to put in what he conceived to be the 

 positions of the Stations and for no other purpose. It is therefore totally valueless. 

 You know I write this letter to all the family. It is quite a round robin and therefore I 

 send no special message to anybody. Andersson desires particularly everything civil, <fec., 

 <fec., it's a long message butl have no room for it. Ever most affectionately, FRANK GALTON. 



Lat. 22.7, Long. 17. Dec. 5, 1850. 



MY DEAR CAMPBELL', We have been now three months among the savages and I 

 find an opportunity of sending letters by clubbing together with some missionaries on 

 the road. The letter will have a three months land journey to make to get to the Cape 

 so that in England it will give rather antiquated intelligence. I like the work amazingly 

 although we have had some real hardship. It is a curious feeling the being really weak 

 from starvation, and I have had the pleasure of experiencing it more than once, but then 

 it is such a luxury to get something to eat that all taken together leaves nothing to 

 complain. Once six lions came down and ate part of my favourite horse and my nicest 

 mule; we had to live on the rest for some time, the meat was tough but strengthening. 

 Another time we were sadly off when to my delight I saw great tracks quite fresh, 

 as broad as a plate, of a cameleopard and we encamped after we had shot him near 

 his carcass and lived like wolves upon him. It is a barren country hereabouts. I must 



1 The Hon. W. F. Campbell, M.P., afterwards Lord Campbell. 



