228 THE SLAVE DEALINGS HERE. [chap. tiii. 



the stay of my party in cases of difficulty or danger, and 

 I would not for any but the weightiest considerations 

 run the risk of losing them. "With no better supply 

 of water and pastm'age than they were now allowed, 

 I felt sure that though they might reach the river, and 

 even retui'n to Nangoro's, yet that they would never 

 see Damara-land again. I also feared that the 

 Portuguese traders might play me some tricks, as 

 these half-castes are by no means scrupulous, even 

 less so than traders are elsewhere ; and I could not 

 help thinking of the way in which our own country- 

 men had behaved to the late Mr. Euxton, when he 

 landed at Walfisch Bay, with a view to explore the 

 interior. I confess that greatly annoyed as I was at 

 being unable to visit the river, I could not help feeling 

 that Nangoro's refusal to let me proceed was all for 

 the best, and I accommodated myself to his orders, 

 and put myseK in readiness to start on my return. 



I made many inquiries as to whether there were any 

 slave-dealings between the Ovampo and the Portuguese ; 

 but I was always answered in the negative. I after- 

 wards heard at St. Helena that slaves were not 

 exported from the south of Benguela, because they 

 never thrived when taken away, but became home-sick 

 and died. This is exactlj' what I should conceive of 

 the Ovampo ; they evidently have strong local and 

 personal attachments ; they are also very national, and 

 proud of their country. 



I should feel but little compassion if I saw aU the 

 Damaras under the hand of a slave-owner, for they 

 could hardly become more wretched than they now are, 



