iv PREFACE. 



are careful agriculturists, and live m a land of great 

 fertility. 



On his return southwards, a quick journey was 

 made into the interior, near the line of the southern 

 tropic, until a road, which had recently been travelled 

 from the borders of the Cape Colony to Lake 'Ngami, 

 was reached, and in this way a j)racticable route 

 between the Lake and the Atlantic was proved to 

 exist. 



Few new objects of natui-al history were either 

 collected or heard of, as the tract in question was 

 for the most part a high barren plateau, that sup- 

 ported but little variety of either animal or vegetable 

 life. 



The journey may perhaps produce a useful result, 

 by indicating a very favourable opening to missionary 

 enterprise, namely, among the Ovampo. The writer 

 has no wish to commit himself to extreme views 

 either on this or on kindred subjects, but, if i)hilan- 

 thropists continue anxious to promote African civilisa- 

 tion, the remarkable advantages of Ovampo -land, as 

 a leverage ground in these matters, should not be 

 lost sight of. The healthiness of the climate, the 

 position of the country, the intelligence and orderly 

 habits of the natives, their travelling and trading 

 propensities, and, lastly, the ready access which it 

 admits of from a healthy sea-coast, form most cogent 



