The waggons that belonged to the Missionaries in the country came down to the beach to carry away their supplies, which had arrived by my ship. A vessel would have been chartered for them if I had not previously engaged it. They had arranged that one should be sent every two years to bring them their things of barter—clothes and groceries, and whatever else they might want; for the overland journey was found to be more expensive and less practicable, as it takes quite four months to reach Cape Town from Walfisch Bay, and the roads are so rocky that a waggon is seriously risked by the journey. The oxen, too, are probably much worn out, and, after all, only some 1500lb., net weight, can be carried in each waggon. On the other hand, a vessel from the Cape arrives in a week, and can, of course, carry anything. The trip costs about 100_l._: it would be much less if it was not that the prevalent winds make it a matter of some four weeks to return. Chance vessels hardly ever arrive now-a-days at Walfisch Bay: not one had come for more than a year. All our things were at length landed; the wells at Sand Fountain yielded enough water for the mules; the storehouses both there and at the Bay were unlocked, and cleared out to receive my luggage; the waggons and cart were pieced together; and the schooner sailed away. CHAPTER II. Sand Fountain.—A Lesson to the Natives.—A Present.—News of a Lion.—Scheppmansdorf.—A narrow Escape.—A Missionary’s Establishment.—Native Huts.—Missions.—A Lion Hunt.—Preparations for the Road.—Native Trees.—The Hottentots.—Character of the Country.—Mode of breaking in an Ox.—Arrangement of the Baggage.—A Prosperous Start.—The Swakop.—Night Bivouac.—Labours of the March.—Loss of a Horse and a Mule.—The Lions’ Chase.—Attempt to avenge the Loss.—Animal Food.—The Ghou Damup.—Erongo Mountain.—Intense Heat.—The Tsobis River.—Ride-Oxen.—Native Servants.—Their Cape Town Life.—A Giraffe Hunt.—Change of Country.—An Ostrich Egg.—Approach to Otjimbinguè.—Hans Larsen. The Missionary who had come with us from Cape Town went off at once to Scheppmansdorf with Mr. Bam, whose oxen fetched his waggon and all his things, and who very kindly promised to give me a help with mine, when the oxen were sufficiently rested, if I would first get the luggage as far as Sand Fountain. The mules were therefore harnessed, and worked excellently, carting my heavy things through the deep sand; and they made sometimes two and sometimes three trips a day between that place and the Bay. Andersson and myself slept at Sand Fountain. John Morta cooked for us, and the others drove the cart, and took care of my store at the Bay.