INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. v 



miles to the eastward of the bay in question. Galton was desi- 

 rous that their little expedition should be thoroughly well 

 equipped iu every respect — more especially as regarded draft- 

 and saddle-oxen, which were not to be had thereabouts, the 

 Damaras in that part of the country being as poor in regard to 

 cattle as in every thing else. The first journey of the travellers 

 into the interior was, therefore, chiefly for the purpose of pur- 

 chasing oxen trained as well to the saddle as to the yoke. 



During this excursion they were exposed to all the hardships 

 and inconveniences that usually follow a wandering life in South- 

 western Africa — namely, burning heat, extreme thirst, worn-out 

 draft-oxen, and attacks by lions, which either devoured their 

 horses and cattle, or drove them to a distance from the en- 

 campment. 



After several days' journey through Namaqua Land, and when 

 they had reached the confines of that country, they arrived at 

 the missionary station of Kichterfeldt. Here they succeeded in 

 procuring from Hans Larsen, a Dane, who was resident there, 

 the requisite number of oxen, as also in inducing him to 

 accompany them during their future wanderings. This was the 

 greatest good fortune that travellers, unaccusbomed to life in the 

 wilderness, could have met with ; for, independently of his 

 having a perfect knowledge of the country, he could turn his 

 hand to almost any thing — as for example, to train oxen either 

 for riding or draft, repairing a waggon when needful, the dis- 

 covery of water in the desert, &c. He was, moreover, a hunter 

 of the first order, and possessed of herculean strength, an iron 

 constitution, and a sang-froid that nothing could move. 

 Andersson, indeed, admits that he and Galton could with difii- 

 culty have traversed the wilderness had they not been accom- 

 panied by Hans. 



They now retraced their steps to Scheppmansdorf. The last 

 preparations for the journey into the interior were made ; and on 

 the 13th of November they set forward. It had thus taken 



