CHAP, vir.] ARCHERY PRACTICE. 203 



It is very remarkable in many ways. Tlie borders are 

 defined and wooded ; its surface is flat and effloresced, 

 and the mirage excessive over it ; it was about nine 

 miles in breadth, but the mirage prevented my 

 guessing at its length ; it certainly exceeded fifteen 

 miles. Chik said it was quite impassable after the 

 rainy season ; and it must form a rather pretty lake 

 at that time. We arrived late in the evening at 

 another werft, on the south border of the grand flat, 

 Otchihako-wa-Motenya, which appears to extend as a 

 grassy treeless estuary between wooded banks the 

 whole way hence to near the sea. The Ovampo here 

 could not believe that I was able to express sounds by 

 writing on paper, so I jotted down the names of a number 

 of people, one after the other, and then read them out. 

 I may as well give a few of them, aa a guide to the 

 rhythm of the langniage : Kangura, Entongo, Epinga, 

 Angero, Aiidahe, Akoosa. I planned a shooting 

 match ; there were a gTeat many-naturalised Bushmen 

 on the spot, and as all the Ovampo carry bows, I had 

 a large archery meeting. I put up a sheep-skin 

 (which gives a target of about three feet by two), and 

 placed the men eighty paces from it. The prize was 

 tobacco ; there were twenty competitors, and each 

 shot six arrows, so that 120 shots were made ; but out 

 of these 120 only one hit the target fairly, and another 

 brushed it. At very near distances, as from five to 

 ten yards, the men shot perfectly. I have frequently 

 given prizes to Damaras, Bushmen, and Ovampo, to 

 shoot for, but I have only seen wretched archery 

 practice, far worse than that of our societies in 



