Chap. III. 
DISCOVEKY OF LAKE KGAMI. 
65 
They have always fires in them, and prefer sleeping in them 
wliile on a journey to spending the night on shore. On land 
you have lions ’’—say they—“ serpents, hyaenas, and your ene¬ 
mies; but in your canoe, behind a bank of reed, nothing can 
harm you.” Then: submissive disposition leads to their villages 
being frequently visited by hungry strangers. We had a pot on 
the fire in the canoe by the way, and when we drew near the 
villages devoured the contents. When fully satisfied ourselves, 
I found we could all look upon any intruders ^¥ith perfect com¬ 
placency, and show the pot in proof of having devoured the last 
morsel. 
While ascending in this way the beautifully-wooded river, we 
came to a large stream flowing into it. This was the river 
Tamunak’le. I inquired whence it came. Oh, from a country 
fuU of rivers—so many no one can teU their number—and fuU of 
large trees! ” Tliis was the first confirmation of statements I 
had heard from the Bakwains who had been with Sebituane, that 
the country beyond was not “the large sandy plateau” of the 
philosophers. The prospect of a highway capable of being tra¬ 
versed by boats to an entirely unexplored and very populous 
region, grew from that time forward stronger and stronger in my 
mind; so much so, that, when we actually came to the lake, tliis 
idea occupied such a large portion of my mental vision that the 
actual discovery seemed of but little importance. I find I wote, 
when the emotions caused by the magnificent prospects of the 
new country were first awakened in my breast, that they “ might 
subject me to the charge of enthusiasm, a charge which I wished 
I deserved, as nothing good or great had ever been accomplished 
in the world without it.”^ 
Twelve days after our departure from the waggons at Ngabi- 
sane we came to the north-east end of Lake Ngami; and on the 
1st of August, 1849, we went down together to the broad part, 
and, for the first time, this fine-looking sheet of water was beheld 
by Europeans. The direction of the lake seemed to be N.N.E. 
and S.S.W. by compass. The southern portion is said to bend 
round to the west, and to receive the Teoughe from the north at 
* Letters published by the Royal Geographical Society. Read 11th Feb. 
and 8th April, 1850. 
F 
