CHAP. VI.] RETURN AND BRING THE WAGGONS. 165 



We were too tired to watch all night, but slept 

 almost without a fire, lying on our valuables, and with 

 the oxen tied short up to us, as we feared some theft. 

 The next morning, having been satisfied of the good- 

 ness of the road, I returned and rode in eleven hours 

 back to Omanbonde, where I arrived before dusk on the 

 10th. On the 12th the waggons started, and were taken 

 successfully out of the river-bed. An accident to my best 

 rifle — a long two-ounce one — happened in the evening; 

 some giraffes were coming near us, and we ran through 

 the bushes and surrounded them. Andersson, who 

 had the rifle, craAvled near to one that Hans had 

 wounded and knocked him over, but the rifle burst or 

 rather cracked with the shot ; the breech giving way 

 just beneath the nipple. I suspect that the bullet 

 had become slightly dislodged by the jolting. We 

 encamped of course by the carcase and had a feast. 

 I see now that the best way of feeding savages is not 

 to give them a steady allowance, so many pounds of 

 meat a day, but to starve them the greatest part of 

 their time, aud to gorge them now and then : besides, 

 it is much the most convenient way of feeding them. 

 There is no doubt that alternate privation and luxury 

 is congenial to most minds. 



The two waggons somehow became separated ; mine 

 was as usual ahead, but the other tried a short cut to 

 overtake us, and lost our spoor. We were playing at 

 cross purposes, each trjdng to find the other for hours ; 

 at last we encamped at Okatjokeama, the werft I had 

 before explored. 



The Damaras who had been so impudent to me and 



