CHAPTER III. 



Hear ill news. — Engage Hans. — Ride to Barmen. — En route. — Oxen versus 

 Idules. — Arrive at Barmen. — Jonker's Attack. — Previous History. — 

 Oerlams and Europeans. — Hottentots and Bushmen. — Establishment 

 of ffissions. — Native Feuds.— Dislike to Missions. — Obstruction to 

 ■Travellers. — Write to Jonker. — Buy Oxen from Hans. — Breaking 

 them in.- — Attacks of Distemper. — Complete my Encampment. — 

 Damara Digging. — Native Himting. — Oxen sent to the Bay. — I go to 

 Barmen. — Damara Thorn Trees. — Jonker writes to me. — My Plans. — 

 The Ovampo. — First Rain. — Hottentot Beauties. — Hyena's Insolence. 

 — Damara Ferocity. — Cruel Murder.— Mutilated Victim.— Message to 

 Chiefs. — Their Replies. 



Otjimbingue is well situated for a Missionary station. 

 Water, the first necessary of life, is here in sufficient 

 quantity, as a small streamlet runs down the bed of 

 the river. Grass, the next essential in the eyes of a 

 pastoral people like the Damaras, is also in abundance, 

 for the Swakop, at tliis place, instead of lying between 

 abrupt cliffs, runs through a wide plain, that shelves 

 for miles down its bed; and which, though covered 

 witli thorn bushes, affords a fair allowance of grass- 

 bearing soU. The mission-house was a temporary 

 affair, a mud wall six feet high, and over it a round- 

 tented ceiling of matwork, in shape like a waggon roof, 

 A gigantic house was being built by Mr. Rath, the 

 missionary, on the top of a little cliff close by. Mr, 



