CHAP, vm.] FUTURE OF OVAMPO-LAND. 229 



and might be made much less mischievous ; but it 

 would be a crying shame to enslave the Ovampo. To 

 me, as a stranger, they did not behave with full 

 cordiality ; and it was natural enough that they should 

 not ; but among themselves the case was quite 

 diflferent. They are a kind-hearted, cheerful people, 

 and very domestic. I saw no pauperism in the 

 country ; everybody seemed well to do ; and the few 

 very old people that I saw were treated with particular 

 respect and care. If Africa is to be civilised, I have 

 no doubt that Ovampo-land will be an important point 

 in the civilisation of its southern parts. It is 

 extremely healthy, and most favourably situated for 

 extending its influence. From the sea-coast it must 

 be accessible ; and inquiries really should be made at 

 Mossamedes about the river which bounds it. A ship 

 cruising along the sea-shore there can see notlaing at 

 all, for the coast is a low sandy desert, which extends 

 quite out of ken of people afloat: it is behind tliis 

 strip of desert that the habitable country begins, and 

 probably through the sand of it that tlie river perco- 

 lates. It is very much to be wished that some explorer 

 would make an attempt from Little Fish Bay, or there- 

 abouts. It would be a far easier undertaldng than that 

 which I have gone through, because the starting-point 

 is an inhabited place, where every necessary can be 

 bought with money. Full information could be 

 obtained there on all the articles of exchange, and 

 horses could be procured. Black men, who speak 

 Portuguese, can readily, I am assm-ed, be foimd ; and 

 there is so large an export of skins and ivory (according 



