CHAPTER XXIV. RETURN TO EIKHAMS-UGLY FALL-SPLENDID LANDSCAPE-JONKER'S DELINQUENCIES-HOW TO MANAGE THE NATIVES-THE ONDARA—IT KILLS A MAN-HOW HIS COMRADE REVENGES HIM-MEDICAL PROPERTIES OF THE ONDARA-THE COCKATRICE-THE COBRA-DI-CAPELLO-THE PUFFADDER-THE SPITTING SNAKE-THE BLACK SNAKE-FEW DEATHS CAUSED BY SNAKES-ANTIDOTES FOR SNAKE BITES-RETURN ΤΟ REHOBOTH. LEAVING Hans in charge of the men and cattle, I posted back to Eikhams, a distance of about sixty miles, in the hope of recovering our debt from Jonker; but he had not yet returned. By this time, however, I received positive information that he and his people were engaged in a cattle-lifting foray. To enable me to acquire full details of their proceedings, I set off for Barmenthe head-quarter for information as respects Damara-land. Here fugitives arrived daily, bringing tidings of plunder and bloodshed. I felt grieved and angry at Jonker's outrageous behavior. Only a year before, he had most solemnly promised Mr. Galton never again to molest the Damaras. Hearing that Kachamaha, the most powerful chief in the country since the death of Kahichenè, resided not far from Barmen, and that he had been a severe sufferer by the depredations of the Namaquas, I determined to visit him, with a view of ascertaining the extent of his own and his countrymen's losses. I found Kachamaha's kraal on the steep banks of a periodical stream, one of the largest tributaries of the Swakop. The situation was most picturesque. The wonderful luxuriance of the vegetation, and extreme beauty of the landscape at this season SPLENDID LANDSCAPE-AN UGLY FALL. 231 the thousands of cattle crowding the verdant slopes-the purling stream, which made a music strange to these regions "A noise like of a hidden brook In the leafy month of June, That to the sleeping woods all night the mimosa (now in full blossom)-the numerous fires on an evening, around which bustling and merry groups of savages were busily preparing their plain "veld-kost" of wild roots and bulbs-these, and many other signs of abundance, cheerfulness, and content, infused a sensation of tranquil happiness which I had not experienced since my arrival in this sun-burnt and un happy land. The result of my own and Mr. Hahn's inquiries, was a conviction that Jonker, with his murderous horde, had destroyed in his recent foray upwards of forty werfts or villages; and that the aggregate number of cattle carried off could not have been much short of ten or eleven thousand. One powerful tribe of Damaras had been completely broken up. With regard to the number of people killed, we were unable to ascertain anything with certainty; but we had reason to think that on this occasion it was not considerable. Having collected all the facts which I thought necessary to convict Jonker of his guilt, I retraced my steps to Eikhams. Almost immediately after leaving Barmen, I had a very ugly fall from my ox. He was plunging and kicking most viciously; but I succeeded for a time in keeping my seat. Unfortunately, however, all at once, both girths gave way, and after performing a somerset in the air, I came with a violent thump to the ground. I alighted in a sitting position; but as ill-luck would have it, my left leg came in contact with the stump of a tree, which inflicted a wound fully two inches in depth, and nearly the same in length. In this state I was obliged to ride upwards of one hundred miles; and the consequence was that by the time I reached Rehoboth, what with the heat of the sun, and the jolting of the ox, my limb was alarmingly inflamed. A week's rest, however, restored me, in a degree, to health. On arriving near Eikhams, I observed almost every hill and dale covered with numerous herds of cattle-the spoils of the last excursion. On my arrival, I requested an immediate interview with the chief. In a day or two, accompanied by twenty of his principal men, he made his appearance. The meeting took place in the old church, where I had established myself, 232 JONKER'S DEFENSE. which gave a certain solemnity to the occasion. Eyebrecht and Onesimus acted as interpreters. Every one being duly seated, and silence obtained, I thus addressed the chieftain : Captain Jonker! when I last saw you, I shook hands with you it grieves me that I cannot do so to-day; the cause you must be aware of." I then proceeded boldly to accuse him of his late depredations in Damara-land, to which both he and the rest of the audience listened in the most profound silence. Having finished my harangue, the cunning chief requested to be allowed to speak a few words in his defense, which, of course, was granted. He then entered into a very long and cleverly concocted story of the great losses he had sustained at the hands of the Damaras; and that what he had now done was solely in self-defense, or as indemnification for robberies committed on himself. Whatever truth there might have been in his assertion as to preceding outrages, his story, on the present occasion, was one chain of falsehood, and this I clearly proved to him. At last, finding no further excuse, and perceiving that I knew all about his proceedings, he confessed that, in passing through the country, his men had certainly "taken a few head of cattle; but," added he, "we left plenty after us." The manner in which he thus attempted to get out of the scrape was so ridiculous, that I could not help smiling. After a little more parley the conference broke up. The Namaquas, however much they may be averse to hear the truth, respect the man who speaks his mind boldly. For this very reason I was never denied a favor or request, if in their power to grant it. The case was similar with Mr. Hahn, who acted on the same principle as myself. In my dealings with the natives, and more especially with the Namaquas, I made it a rule to treat them civilly, and even deferentially, but I never mixed very freely with them. The moment a person becomes too familiar, they lose all respect for him. The only check he has on their avarice, and safeguard against their treachery is to exert, as far as possible, a certain moral influence over their minds. This he effects, to a certain extent, by showing himself superior to their faults and vices. It might be convenient enough to imitate them in some respects; but, on the whole, it will prove injurious and detrimental to the traveler's interest. After a short stay at Eikhams, I bade adieu to Jonker, and set off on my return to Rehoboth. One morning, when crossing a periodical stream, I observed, THE ONDARA-IT KILLS A MAN. 233 1 I in its sandy bed, the tracks of an immense serpent, in size, as it would seem, not much inferior to the boa constrictor. had previously heard that such monsters inhabited this part of Africa, but the natives declared they were poisonous (not characteristic of this family of reptiles), and, consequently, feared them greatly. The Damaras called the serpent in question the Ondara, and said that its chief food was the rock-rabbit (hyrax capensis). Mr. Hahn had an opportunity of seeing one of these huge creatures, which had been accidently killed by the people at Rehoboth. It measured eighteen feet in length.2 I was told a very striking story of the Ondara, but I am not at all prepared to vouch for its truth. Two Hill-Damaras had, it seems, gone in search of honey, and having found a bees' nest in the cleft of a rock, one of them made his way through the confined aperture that led to it, .for the purpose of possessing himself of the honeycomb. But he had not long been thus engaged when he discovered a narrow, circular passage, leading, apparently, right through the nest. He told this to his comrade on the outside, who suggested that it was probably caused by a serpent. However, seeing nothing to indicate the reptile's presence, he resumed his labor; and, having secured the honeycomb, was about to withdraw from the aperture, when, to his horror, he saw a huge Ondara making towards him. The reptile passed the poor fellow in the first instance, but suddenly turning round, it plunged its murderous fangs into the man's body. The poison was of so virulent a a nature as to cause almost instantaneous death. The survivor, Large species of serpents of the python family are known to inhabit many parts of the African continent. Dr. Smith, in his "Zoology of South Africa," when speaking of a certain species (python Natalensis) found sparingly in the neighborhood of Natal, thus says: "It occasionally attains a very large size, and, according to the natives, individuals have been seen whose circumference was equal to that of the body of a stout man we have ourselves seen a skin which measured twenty-five feet, though a portion of the tail was deficient. It feeds upon quadrupeds, and for some days after swallowing food it remains in a torpid state, and may then be easily destroyed. The South Africans, however, seldom avail themselves of these opportunities of ridding themselves of a reptile they view with horror, as they believe that it has a certain influence over their destinies; and affirm, that no person has ever been known to maltreat it without, sooner or later, paying for his audacity." 2 Mr. Freeman, in "A Tour in South Africa," mentions having heard of one of this kind of reptiles being destroyed that actually exceeded this size nearly three times. "This enormous serpent," says the reverend gentleman, "was hanging from the bough of a large tree, and was killed only after a desperate struggle. It measured fifty feet in length. This was ascertained by a number of men lying down at full length by its side. It took nine men to reach from the head to the tail, and was of prodigious girth round the body." 234 THE COCKATRICE. witnessing the fate of his friend, fled precipitately. On his way home, however, and when his agitation had subsided, he determined to revenge himself on the reptile, and early the following day he returned to put his plan into execution. Having seen the serpent leave the aperture in question, he slipped unperceived into it, and quietly awaited the reptile's return. As soon as he observed it approaching, he coolly placed his open hand across the narrowest part of the passage; and, just as the monster's eyes glared within, he grasped it by the throat, and, by striking its head to and fro against the rocks on either side, he soon succeeded in destroying it. Many Namaquas believe that the ondara possesses certain medicinal virtues; therefore, when they succeed in killing the reptile, its flesh is carefully preserved. If a person falls sick, a portion is either applied externally in the form of an unction, or given to the patient in a decoction. The natives mention a very singular little snake, about seven or eight inches long, possessing four distinct legs, each provided with toes and nails like a lizard. It is difficult to conceive for what purpose these limbs (which are placed somewhat apart, and rather to the side, as in the seal) have been destined by nature, since they are apparently never used. The motion of this curious creature, which is of a dark slate color, is said to be that of a perfect snake. Three specimens were brought at different times to Mr. Hahn when at Barmen. The story of the cockatrice, so common in many parts of the world, is also found amongst the Damaras; but instead of crowing, or rather chuckling, like a fowl when going to roost, they say it bleats like a lamb. It attacks man as well as beast, and its bite is considered fatal. They point to the distant north as its proper home. In Timbo's country it is termed "hangara," and is said to attain to twelve feet, or even more, in length, with a beautifully variegated skin. On its head, like the guinea-fowl, it has a horny protuberance of a reddish color. It dwells chiefly in trees. Its chuckle is heard at night-fall; and people, imagining that the noise proceeds from one of their own domestic fowls that has strayed, hasten to drive it home. But this frequently causes their destruction; for as soon as the cockatrice perceives its victim within reach, it darts at it with the speed of lightning; and if its fangs enter the flesh, death invariably ensues. Timbo informed me that he once saw a dog belonging to his father thus killed. Moreover, the cockatrice, like the wild dog, wantonly destroys more at a time that it can consume. |