188 DAMARA CREED. [chap. vi. 



those who are settled towards the interior are alwaj^s 

 called " Ovampantieru," or the " Deceivers;" for what 

 reason I am totally unable to find out. Damup, which 

 is the Namaqua name for the people generally, has 

 been corrupted by the Oerlams and Dutch traders into 

 " Damara," and by this title they have always been 

 known to the whites. Like the word " Caifre," it is an 

 established name, and also a convenient one ; for it 

 supersedes all distinctions of locality and of tribes, 

 which Ovaherero does not ; in addition to this, it is 

 very pronounceable, and therefore I prefer adhering to 

 established usage, and calling these savages by it, 

 rather than by words in then' own language. 



Next, as to then" jumble of ideas, which, for want of 

 a better name must be dignified by that of their 

 religion or creed — 



In the beginning of things there was a tree (but the 

 tree is somehow double, because there is one at 

 Omaruru, and another near Omutchamatunda), and 

 out of this tree came Damaras, Bushmen, oxen, and 

 zebras. The Damaras lit a fire, which frightened 

 away the Bushmen and the oxen ; but the zebras 

 remained. Hence it is that Bushmen and wild beasts 

 live together in all sorts of inaccessible j)laces, while 

 the Damaras and the oxen possess the land. The 

 tree gave birth to everything else that lives ; but has 

 not been prolific of late years. It is of no use waiting 

 by the side of the tree in hopes of capturing such oxen 

 and sheep as it might bear. 



Again, notwithstanding that everything comes out of 

 the tree, men have in some separate manner a special 



