CHAP. I.] THE NATIVES. 15 



coast ; ill coniiug here we passed through a " school " 

 or herd. It was a magnificent sight ; for the whole 

 sea around us was ploughed up by them. We went up 

 the Bay very cautiously, for it has never been properly 

 sui'veyed ; and different charts give most widely 

 different plans of it. At nightfall, we anchored a 

 mile or so off shore. We could see no natives ; and 

 not a sign of life anywhere, excepting in the immense 

 flocks of pelicans and of flamingos and other sea-birds. 

 And this, it appears, is the character of the entire 

 coast between the Orange Eiver and the Portuguese 

 territory — a physical barrier wliich has saved the natives 

 who live behind it from the infliction of a foreign 

 slave-trade. 



The books of sailing directions say that no fresh 

 water can be obtained on the coast for the whole of tliat 

 distance ; but this is a mistake, as in Sandwich Harbour, 

 some twenty miles south of Walfisch Bay, there is, at 

 least at present, a copious supply. 



In the morning we saw some savages about, and 

 brought the schooner as close in shore as seemed safe, 

 about one -third of a mUe from the store -house ; and at 

 midday, the captain, the new Missionary, and ourselves 

 landed. A row of seven dirty squalid natives came to 

 meet us. Three had guns : they drew up in a line, and 

 looked as powerful as they could ; and the men with guns 

 professed to load them. They had Hottentot features, 

 but were of a darker colour, and a most ill-looking 

 appearance : some had trousers, some coats of skins, and 

 they clicked, and howled, and chattered, and behaved 

 like baboons. This was my first impression, and that 



