CHAP, m.] MESSAGE TO CHIEFS. 93 



further account, as he became delirious and died in a 

 few hours. 



I had sent messages to the different chiefs trying to 

 explain what the instructions were that I had received 

 at Cape Town. The way of authenticating messages 

 in this part of the world is curious; it is by giving 

 some token to the messenger which he shows as a 

 guarantee that he really comes from the person he 

 professes to represent, just as our ancestors who were 

 not clever at ^Titing sent their signet rings. I could 

 not tell what to send ; it ought to be something very 

 characteristic and not worth stealing — an article that 

 neither grease, rain, nor dirt could spoil, and impossible 

 to be broken. All my things were reviewed, but none 

 were suitable except a great French cuirassier's sword 

 in a steel scabbard, one that I had bought years 

 before in Egypt. This was just the thing. The 

 Damaras adore iron as we adore gold ; and the bright- 

 ness of the weapon was charming in their eyes. They 

 had no idea of its use, as swords are unknown to 

 them, but they considered it as a large knife. I 

 therefore girded my messenger with it in the presence 

 of his companion, and Mr. Hahn translated for me 

 a short message to this effect — That I came from a 

 great chief and a large nation who did not rob as the 

 Namaquas did, but wished to be friends and not 

 enemies with the Damaras, and to send traders into 

 their country ; that our land was very fertile, and we 

 did not want any other, but we wanted cattle, and our 

 traders would bring iron and buy them; that the 

 Damaras must not think when our people come that 



