CHAP, vm.] STAET HOMEWARD. 235 



carried a steel-yard, and knew and registered the 

 weight of everything I carried. 



I mentioned that the Ovampo had fowls ; they are 

 very pretty small bantams, and I bought three — 

 thinking that being a new breed they might have 

 some points about them which would be valuable to 

 poultry fanciers ; they eat very little, and laid eggs 

 every day. I put them in an Ovampo basket, covered 

 it with a piece of skin, and made one of the Damara 

 women carry it on her head. 



June 15th. — We left Nangoro's in company with 

 Chik, and with Tippoo, who did the honours for 

 Nangoro. The oxen kicked excessively with their 

 packs. Kahikene's black ox ripped up with his horns 

 two of the bags of corn that he carried, and galloped 

 about, kicking and tossing like mad. We caught him 

 at last, and had him down, and sawed off the tips of 

 his horns on the spot. We were about three hours in 

 doing four miles, and had to encamp under a tree ; the 

 first start is always the most troublesome part of a 

 journey. 



Jime 16th. — Travelled four hours and slept at the 

 vley. The oxen were so stiff that I had to take them 

 on by easy stages. They strayed in the night, and 

 were not recovered till past mid-day. Spooring is out 

 of the question in Ondonga, as the ground is trodden 

 up everywhere. Luckily the oxen had done no damage, 

 only a little trespass, and we went on to Chik's house, 

 where we stopped. There was evidently no means of 

 getting water for the cattle before leaving Ondonga, so 

 we made ready to be off very early. The morning 



