208 NATIVE BEER. [chap. vu. 



these was a great difficulty, for the wells have to be 

 dug twenty or tliirty feet deep through the sandy soil 

 before water is reached ; and then it oozes out so slowly 

 that only a very limited supply can be obtained. There 

 had been gTeat ti'ouble in getting even my small drove 

 of cattle watered ; but Chik said that there were some 

 vleys still left, which were Nangoro's property ; but to 

 which he would probably allow my oxen to be driven. 

 The Ovampo make a great fuss about water ; if I wanted 

 any to drink I had to buy it with beads. I was greatly 

 pleased with the mutual goodwill and cordiaHty that 

 evidently existed among the Ovampo ; they were all 

 plump and well-fed ; even the blind old people, who are 

 such wretched objects in Damara-land, were here well 

 tended and fat. They looked shy at me ; but Chik 

 had been impressing upon me during the whole of our 

 journey that his countrymen would all keep away until 

 Nangoro had seen and approved of me, then they would 

 come from all sides, and be as civil as possible. Chik 

 introduced me to some of his most particular friends, 

 who were very hospitable indeed, stopping us on the 

 road, and giving us beer and biscuits, and such-lilie 

 luxuries. The beer is not to be despised, although it 

 is very thin and sweet ; it is made from crushed corn 

 and water, and takes two or three days before it is 

 quite ready. I should think that a person must drink 

 immense quantities before he could become intoxicated 

 with it, "but two or three tumblers full make orie sleepy. 

 We travelled short stages, sleeping one night at the 

 house of one of Chik's friends who kraaled our oxen 

 in. I was much afraid of their straying in the night. 



