CHAP. IV.] DATES. 127 



skill. I had returned from Jonker's on the 8th of 

 February, and for three weeks we remained at 

 Schmelen's Hope, waiting for the Damara chiefs, 

 breaking-in the oxen and hoping for the rains. It is 

 a charming place, and almost a sufficiency of game was 

 killed to feed us. 



