260 PLUNDERING EXPEDITIONS. [chap. ix. 



the mud at the bottom of it they found quantities of 

 elephants' bones and tusks, so that a trader bought 

 enough ivory to fill more than one, and I think two 

 waggons with it. Elephants were then numerous at 

 the place, but they have now quitted it. 



A verjr fatal intermittent fever occurs here, and has 

 depopulated the place more than once ; it breaks out 

 in April, and rages for two or three months. It does 

 not extend to the west of the place ; I cannot say 

 whether or no it does to the east. Amiral told me 

 that the Mationa, or Bechuanas, as he called them, 

 occasionally visited liim ; but that, havmg no inter- 

 preter, he could not converse with them. One large 

 party of chiefs had just left Wesley Vale. He said 

 that the Bushmen had always told him that the desert 

 to the east was impassable ; but that from time to time 

 they had found springs in their hunting excursions ; 

 and that very likely there Avas a way across it, if the 

 Bushmen would only choose to point it out. It seemed 

 that the desert was bare sand opposite to Wesley Vale, 

 four days south of Elephant Fountain, but covered 

 with grass at this latitude. I therefore had good 

 reason to hope that we should turn its flank. Last 

 year a large party of Kubabees Hottentots (who live a 

 few daj's east of Bethany) rode up to the north, passing 

 alongside of Amiral's country ; but far to tlie east of it, 

 they came to a place called " Tounobis," whence they 

 made plundering excursions on all sides : some against 

 the Damaras, and some against the Mationa, who lived 

 on Lalte 'Ngami itself. A nephew of Amkal's, who 

 could write Dutch, was in the expedition, and sent 



