168 SETTLE AT OKAMBUTI. [chap. vi. 



covered knolls, all about which the animals were said 

 to be feeding at that very time. We had passed 

 thi'ough a broad belt of palms, high, magnificent 

 trees, Tvith fan-shaped leaves and prickly stems, 

 bearing clusters of fruit exactly Hke that of the North 

 African doum palm, that is to say, a ruddy, dry fniit, 

 with a fibrous kernel that no power we had at com- 

 mand could make any impression upon. I brought 

 some specimens home with me, and they are planted 

 at Kew Gardens. Ivory was very common as an 

 ornament among these Damaras, om* present guide 

 sported a long string of ivory beads, which he wore 

 like a halter, it dangled from his neck down his back 

 as far as his heels. The size of these beads, which 

 were carefully made, tapered gradually down, from 

 nearly the size of billiard-baUs to that of hazel-nuts. 

 He would not sell his cherished ornament, though he 

 very kindly offered to lend it to me for a day or two, if 

 I wished to wear it. 



April 17th. — ^We arrived at Okambuti, where the 

 werft of tlie principal chief of these parts, Chapupa, 

 was then lying. We were assured that there were 

 elephants about, who drank regularly at some neigh- 

 bouring foimtains, and we found the si)oors of five. 

 One was said to be a savage, single -tusked, old bull, 

 and we made a long but unsuccessful hunt after him ; 

 as he walked faster than we could, a whole day's 

 severe labom* was on that occasion unrewarded. Some 

 time later, the Damaras went out in a large body to 

 attack him with assegais, for he had come close up to 

 their werft. They surrounded the animal in that 



