The narrative of an explorer in tropical South AfricaGalton, Francis
History
The narrative of an explorer in tropical South Africa
Galton, Francis
South Africa -- Description and travel
_June 15th._—We left Nangoro’s in company with Chik, and with Tippoo,
who did the honours for Nangoro. The oxen kicked excessively with their
packs. Kahikenè’s black ox ripped up with his horns two of the bags of
corn that he carried, and galloped about, kicking and tossing like mad.
We caught him at last, and had him down, and sawed off the tips of his
horns on the spot. We were about three hours in doing four miles, and had
to encamp under a tree; the first start is always the most troublesome
part of a journey.
_June 16th._—Travelled four hours and slept at the vley. The oxen were
so stiff that I had to take them on by easy stages. They strayed in the
night, and were not recovered till past midday. Spooring is out of the
question in Ondonga, as the ground is trodden up everywhere. Luckily the
oxen had done no damage, only a little trespass, and we went on to Chik’s
house, where we stopped. There was evidently no means of getting water
for the cattle before leaving Ondonga, so we made ready to be off very
early. The morning came, and, to our surprise, Chik would not go with
us. We persuaded him to go as far as Netjo’s, whom we knocked up out of
his snug hut in the chill early morning, and wishing him and his family
an affectionate adieu, gave him the last beads that we had, and started
away on our old track to Damara-land.
It was with the greatest relief that I once again felt myself my own
master, and could go when I liked and as I liked; anything for liberty,
even though among the thorn-bushes.
I was sincerely grieved that Chik would not return with us, as he was a
person of great consequence in the country, and I had hoped that by his
means the Damara-land Missionaries would be enabled easily to extend
their stations among the Ovampo, which was an object they had long hoped
for. They would also have had leisure to learn from him enough of the
Ovampo language to make themselves independent of an interpreter. I
believe Chik wanted to go, but he could persuade no companions to join
him, and, naturally enough, did not like to go alone.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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