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CHAP. VI.] MISTAKE A LION FOR AN ANTELOPE. CHAPTER VI.

Mistake a Lion for an Antelope-Explore a road-Reach Palms-Return and bring the Waggons-Experiences of African travel-Guide decamps and we find another-Settle at Okamabuti-The first Elephant-Waggon breaks down-Encampment made-Chapupa's history-Savages vc'rsus Europeans-Ride on to the Ovampo-Method of searching for 'A'aterDamaras are bad Guides-Find some Bushmen-We start, but are ordered back-The OvainpoCaravan-Chikorongo-onkomp6-Pronunciation of the letter M-Salt, not a necessary of life-Damaras never eat it-Return to Chap upa's Werft-Arran ge a present for Nangoro-Dressed and tanned leather-Hear of Kahikene's death-Damara Creed-Eandas and Omakuru-Ceremonies-Huts and Finery-Chaunts and MusicDamara language-Prefixes.

rHus closed an era in the journey; the first great point was reached, the furthest that the Hottentots from Namaqualand had ever seerfor they had travelled as far as Omanbond& in one great expedition;

they went in great numbers and returned in some distress after a few months' absence.

Curiously enough I arrived at Omanbond6 the day year that I had left England.

Now that my oxen were becoming a little more manageable, and the men accustomed to travelling I had hopes of making better progress than I had done, and of soon reaching a far more interesting country than that which I had now nearly crossed. I stayed two days at Omanbond6 walking about putting my map in order, and strolling with my little rifle to shoot guinea-fowls or francolines. There was very little game about, and I had neither patience nor endurance to run on their spoors till I found them. One day as I was sauntering about in this way, I had rather a fright; my rifle was loaded with the merest puff of powder and a round ball, when I caught a sudden glimpse of an animal standing on a mound about two hundred yards off. I saw him through the thick boughs of a bush, dropped to the ground directly, and made a careful stalk. I fancied it was a koodoo, and I hoped that I might secure the animal if I could get very near to him. I crawled for about ten minutes amongst the abominable thorns, and never showed myself once until about forty or fifty yards from the mound, and then I poked my rifle very gently between the branches of a thorn-tree, and raised myself up slowly on a level with it. To

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