The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1869-07-29
sogTHwEsT o. 1Hrl AFRICA. .lz II 4 :,
A NeuG Pe0ple Discoy ered-A Race Lil1,
the TAnglO-Saxon of asAsiatie. Origin
Their Religion Spiritual-TlIeir Govern
lnent MOnaFchical. 4s .-''>i'i-Nf

50. -=H : d.. .-.
In the southwestern portion of Af--
rica is n tract of about 300 miles in
breadth from north to south, and be-
tween 400 and 600 in length, from east
to west, laid down on the maps as
Herero Land or Damara Land. 1t
extends from the Cuene river. n.the
north to Walfisch Bay, on the south,
and from the coast to Lake Ngami, in
the interior. Very few Europeans
have visited it; three elephant hunt
ers only, between 1857 and 1864, An
derson, whose works on &: Lake ,Nga-
nil &c, are SO well known, Green
Smuts. Anderson was so much pleas
ed with the country, that he bought a
large tract of land there, and raised
thousands of cattle. He died there in
the early part of the present year.
+ There are two races inhabitdngl the
eountry-the iBechiianas, who occupy
some kraals or villages in the central
and northern part, but who are in a
dependent condition, and the Ovas of
several tribes, (Ovainbo, Ovarkereis,
Ovambautieru, Ovamguari, Ovakue-
mama, Ovambuerre, &e9 a red race,
with long hair, curly, but never wool
ly, regular features and fine FORMS
These are the ruling race, and exhibit
a. high degree of Intelligence, and
many characteristics which indicate
their Asiatie origin. They. are gov
erned by king-Tjikongo-of the
Ovambo race, who resides at Ondon-
ga He is assisted in the government
by aocouncil, without whose consent
he cannot execute any measure. Each
tribe has its prince and its territory,
and the princes are subject to the king
and council, by which, for, any offense
against the laws, they may be edeposed
or put to death. Each principality is
divided into, districts, governed by
chiefs, who are amenable to the primo
es, but have an appeal to the king and
council. Their roads are excellent,
and each has an Inspector, whose bnsi-
ness it is to see that every person COM
ing into the kingdom is stopped! and
entertained until his name and pur-
pose can be forwarded to the king, and
permissioned obtained for him to
travel through the country.i In the
case of explorers and hunters, there
is usually little difficulty; but traders
are required to procure some respon-
sible citizen of the country to be their
guarantee that they shall deal ihonora-
bly,, and pay all the, debts they con
tract. ...',f..E.. -.
The religion ofethe country is, in
many respects, so like that of the Par
sees, as to induce the belief that the
Ovas belong to that race. or have been
under its tuition They are not idol
ators, but belieYe in Supreme Being,
the Creator, who is omnipresent, ON
nipotent and omniscient, and whose
symbols are the sun, and fire, and to
these they pay homage as his rspre-
sentatives, but offer 10 sacrifices to
them. They keep the sacred fires con-
stantly burning, and the princes, who
are also priests, entrust to their daugh.
tiers, and sometimes to their wives, the
duty of experimenting these sacred
fires. The Oyas also believe in the
| existence of a very Dowerfill evil snir-
it. who is not, however, .omniscient
nor omnipresent; and to his interfer-
ence they attribute their misfortunes
and accidents, but they offer no sacri-
fees to him. They are said to be hon.
est, industrious and temperate people
far more regardful of their word, and
more obseryant of good morals, than
most of the African nations. .aaas