The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-07-13

\ S"W People Discovered in 2sri"a-.s
! Race Eissc the Sngio-SaxOn Of
A>iatic Origin---TH"iT Religion !Spi-
rituai--~Ehcir Government Monar-
cl,iaI.
From the New York Observer.
I'm The southwestern portion of Africa IS
airirt Of about 500 miles in breadth. lro1u
north To south. and between 400 and 900
a length, from east to west. laid down on
Fl" maps as IIcrcro Land or Damara Land.
d extends from the Cuncnc river, on the
a~r'h. t. the Walii-ch bay, on the south,
taj 'roIn The coast 10 Lake Ngami, in the
Interior. Very few Europeans have visited
Il: three elephant hunters only, between
~, and iSGi-AnderSon, whose works on
"I'A" Ngami," &C., are 20 well known
',1r.u. and SHUTS. Anderson was so much
.nH.rd with the country that he purchased
large tract of land there. and raised some
ou>dndS Of cattle. lie died there i'll the
.UI} part OF the present year
There are two races inhabiting the colln-
1, the BrchuanaS. who occupy some kraalS
liIagc> in the central and northern part,
~ who are i'll dependent condition, ana
.. oyaS. of several tribes, (OVambo, OHar-
,r.',, Dyamhauticru, Ovamguari, Ovakuc-
mama, Ovambuerc, &c.,) red race, with
,u. nair-curlv. but never Woolly-regular
aa'trrS, and fine forms. These are the
ling race, and exhibit high degree OF in
r.n-rncc, and many characteristics which
,D,ylrc their A>iatic origin. They are 90
arurd 10y a king--Tiikonyo--ot the Ovambo
H,., who resides at Ondon@a. He Is as
sru5 in the Government by coun-
, without whose consent lie cannot
,..utr any measure Each tribe has its
FU.r and its territory. and the princes are
subject 10 the king and council, by whom,
"I any offence against the laws, they may
M~ drpu>cd or put TO death. Each princl-
rHi'y j, divided into districts, governed by
u".>. who are ;mcnablc to the princes,
~, nave an appeal TO the king and council
heir roads are excellent, and each has an
Inspector, whose business Is TO see THAT
every person coming into the kingdom Is
,'npuod anT$ entertained until his name and
#,epo>e> can he forwarded TO the king, and
,mnuI,>iun obtained for him to travel
through the country. In the case OF cX-
iaur"r> and hunters, there Is usually little
alb'ully; but traders are required TO pro-
ire some responsible citizen of the coun-
.T' lu &c their guarantee that they shall deal
uonorahly, and pay all the debts they con-
"at.
The religion of the country IS, IN many
.e>f"rt- ~ much like that of the Par>ees as
70 induce the belief that the OvaS belong
that race. or have been under it> tuition.
iA'y ar" not idolators, but believe in Su-
.sn" Being, the Creator, who Is omnlpre-
momipotcnt, and omniscicnt, and whose
'm"i~ an" the sun and the fire, and TO
.l'>r they pay homage as his representa-
''>, hut offer no sacrifices 10 them. Iney
h'l HE sacred fire constantly burning,
'.1 the princes. who are also priests, en-
iN 10 their daughters, and sometimes to
Herr wives, the duty of experimenting
'r' sacred fires. The OvaS also believe IN
' existence Of Il very powerful evil spirit,
i 'An Is not, however, omniscient nor omni-
.""nl and TO his interference they attn
lr their mi>tortunes and accidents, but
my offer no sacrifices TO him. They are
auto BE-" honest, industrious, and tenn
ia'c people, far more re@ardiul OF theif
@'id, and more observant of good morals,
''A most Of the African nations.