CHAP, m.] DAMARA DIGGING. 79 



When the holes had to be dug for planting the 

 uprights, I was infinitely amused at the adroitness 

 with which the Damaras made them. I should have 

 used spades, and, in default of those, I really do not 

 know what I should have done, but the natives each 

 took a common stick, pointed at one end, and, holding 

 it like a dagger, broke up the gToimd with it ; they 

 then scratched out the loose earth with their left hand, 

 working in this way until holes were biuTowed deeper 

 than the elbow, and only some sik inches in diameter. 

 Savages have so many occasions for scratching up the 

 ground, as in digging for deep roots, for water, when 

 the wells are partly choked up, and such like, that 

 the Damaras often carry a stick for the purpose among 

 their arrows, in their quiver. The Bushmen do the 

 same, and this method of digging is called in Dutch 

 patois " crowing " the ground ; thus, " crow-water," 

 means water that you have to crow for, and not an 

 open well, or spring. 



To return to my horse ; the day arrived when he 

 was doomed, and the fatal distemper made him its 

 last victim. It appears that distemper is most fatal 

 in the months of September, October, and November, 

 and that it generally ceases with the first rains. The 

 Hottentots were hardly able to contend with it at first, 

 but by degrees places were found in the Hottentot 

 country, one on a high table -mountain, where the 

 sickly season could be passed by them in safety ; some 

 few horses had had the distemper and recovered, and 

 these were kept at hand. Jonker had always a few of 

 these about him. The exchange price of a horse 



