350 TRAVELS IN 
little cameleon. Had the eye been placed in the usual part 
of the face, just below the forehead, which is very large, the 
visual rajs would have embraced only about 180 degrees, or 
half of the horizon ; whereas, iu their present position, they 
have a much greater range, the creature being able, I should 
suppose, without moving its head, to sweep a portion of the 
horizon equal to at least 260 degrees. 
The people composing this little society seemed to live 
very happily togctlier. They had horses, and cattle, and 
sheep, and gardens of no inconsiderable extent, well stocked 
with pumpkins, onions, and tobacco. 
■ We met also, at this kraal, one of the nation above men- 
tioned under the name of Damaras. From his appearance I 
took him to be a Kaffer, and he was unquestionably of that 
race of people. He represented the Damaras as a very poor 
tribe ; that their country along the sea-coast produced no- 
thing for the support of cattle ; and that their whole exist- 
ence depended on exchanging copper rings and beads, which 
they themselves manufactured, with the Briqiias to the east, 
and the Namaaquas to the south. From the Orange river 
to the Tropic, under which these people live, runs a chain of 
mountains, which, from the various accounts of travellers, are 
so abundant in copper ore, that it is every where found upon 
the surface. From this ore, it seems, the Damaras are in 
possession of the art of extracting the pure metal. This 
man's account of the process of smelting the ore was as satis- 
factory as simple. They make a kind of charcoal from the 
^.vood of a certain mimosa, of which he gave me a large bean, 
