CHAP, vj.] THE OVAMPO CAEAVAN. 179 



men oi* Damaras, I acknowledged that it was but 

 reasonable that they should desire to know sometliing 

 of a stranger before they could allow him to pass into 

 their country, and I returned with them to the encamp- 

 ment we had that morning left. 



My new acquamtances were entirely a different 

 looking race from the Damaras, but very Kke the Ghou 

 Damup. They were ugly, bony men, with strongly 

 marked featiu'es, and dressed with a very funny scanti- 

 ness of attu'e. Their heads were shaved, and one 

 front tooth was chipped out. They carried little light 

 bows three and a half feet long, and a small and well- 

 made assegai in one hand. On their backs were 

 quivers, each holding from ten to twenty well-barbed 

 and poisoned arrows, and they carried a dagger-knife 

 in a neat sheath, which was either fixed to a gii'dle 

 round the waist, or else to a band that encircled the 

 left arm above the elbow. Their necks were laden 

 with necklaces for sale, and every man carried a long 

 narrow smoothed pole over his shoulder, fi'om either 

 end of which hung a quantity of packages. These 

 were chiefly little baskets holding ii'on articles of 

 exchange, packets of corn for their own eating, and 

 water bags. 



The Ovampo were tw^enty-four in number, with a 

 tall enterprising-looking young man as captain. I 

 admired greatly the neatness and order of thek encamp- 

 ment, and their demeanour was really poHshed. AVe 

 soon became good friends, and I killed a young ox for 

 them and for ourselves ; they added some corn, which 

 was a most grateful change of diet to us. They paid 



