210 ENCAMP BY NANGORO'S VILLAGE. [chap. vu. 



frightened and suspicious, and Chik would not interpret 

 for me to them. 



At last a particularly fine clump of trees came in 

 sight, and there Cliik said we were ordered to stay, 

 Nangoro's palisading being only a quarter of a mile 

 further. Here we offpacked, and made a kind of 

 encampment. I pitched my tent, and we made as good 

 a screen as we were able with the saddle-bags, and a 

 few palm branches, but we had hardly any firewood, 

 grass, or water. After a great deal of trouble I made 

 Chik obtain for us the use of some wells close by, but 

 we had to wait half the day till they were disengaged. 

 Then I could find no place to send my oxen to feed. 

 No kind offer was made of a stubble field, and Chik 

 would not bestir himself much. He was always saying, 

 " You must wait ; Nangoro will come down and see 

 you to-morrow, and then he will arrange everything ; " 

 but in the meantime my oxen were starving. The 

 Ovampo kept away from us, and Chik was almost the 

 only person that we were allowed to communicate 

 with. We all felt uncomfortable, I never for a moment 

 expected any attack from the Ovampo, but I had 

 considerable misgivings that they purposely intended 

 to keep my oxen in low condition that I might be 

 less independent. 



Ondonga is a very difficult place to get away from. 

 Indeed if anything had occurred to make it advisable 

 for me to force a quick retreat I hardly know how I 

 should have done it. It would have been very 

 questionable if we could have found our way back by 

 Netjo's house ; for, as I mentioned before, the country 



