THE RISE AND FALL OF UPINGTONIA. 351 



return them or not. I am only a child, and do not 

 know the traditions of my forefathers, or even how 

 far my boundary extends. So please, my eldest 

 brother, kindly inform me how far my boundary 

 extends to." 



For a short time the dark curtain of the far 

 interior drops, and then we have the final and tragic 

 climax of the drama. On the 29th June, 1887, late 

 in the afternoon, Jordaan " outspanned " at Ondonga, 

 whither he had trekked to endeavour to come to 

 terms with Khambonde. Considering the excited 

 state of the Ovampos, and their character for 

 treachery and bloodshed, for they had a few years 

 before slaughtered a Roman Catholic mission, his 

 journey was a dangerous one ; but, being a man of 

 strong will and determined courage, Jordaan seems 

 to have had no misgivings. 



After night had fallen, the waggon was surrounded 

 by Ovampos, who had received their orders from the 

 chief, and early next morning they advanced to the 

 outspan, and squatted by the camp fire. Presently 

 their leader spoke to Jordaan's driver, who was 

 preparing breakfast, and told him that Khambonde 

 had sent a present of an ox, and that he wished to 

 salute him. Accordingly Jordaan was awakened, 

 descended from his waggon, and greeted the 

 Ovampos. He then prepared for breakfast, and 

 just as he stretched across to take a cup of tea from 

 his driver, one of the Ovampos fired both barrels of 

 a heavy elephant gun into his chest at three paces, 

 killing him dead on the spot. The Hottentot driver 

 rushed to the waggon for a gun, but was forthwith 

 despatched. The waggon was then taken to the 

 chief and looted, while, shortly after, the body of the 



