The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1869-08-25
A New People Discoveredin Africa.

In the southwestern portion Of Africa ia
q tract Of land about two hundred miles
in breadth, from north to south, and be.
tween four hundred and FIVE hundred in
length from east to west, laid down on the
map as Hurero Land or Damara Land 1t
extends from the Cunene riveron the north
to the Wnliisch Bay or the south, and
from the coast to Lake Ngami, in the in
terror. Very few Europeans have visited
it: three elephant Hunters only, between
1857 and 1864, Anderson, whose works on
Lake Ngami." &c, are 40 well known
Green, and SHUTS. Anderson was so
much pleased with the country that he
purchased large tract of land there and
raised some thousands of cattle. He died
there in the early part of the present year.
There are two races inbabiling The coun
try. the B-chuauas. who OCCUPY som.
krulls or villages in the central aud north.
ern part, but who are hi dependent con-
(Ovainho; Ovarkercis. Ovambeautiern
Ovamguari Otakuenama. Ovambuaers, &.,)
a red race. with long hair-curly, but never
wooly--reghat features and fine forms.--
These ARE the ruling race and exhibit a
high degree Of intelligence. and many
characteristics Which INDICATE their Asiatic
origin. They are governed by Ring
Tjikongo-- Of the Ovambo race, who re.
sides ut Ondonga. He is assisted in the
government by council without whose
consent he cannot execute any III ,asure.--
Each tribe has its prince and its territory
and the princes are subject to the king
and council, by whom. for any offence
against the laws, they may be deposed or
put to death. Each principality is divided
into districts, governed by chiefs, who are
amenable to the princes. hut have an APP
peal to the king and council. Their roads
are excellent, and each has an inspector
whose business it is 10 see that every per
son coming into the kingdom is stopped
and entertained until his name and purposes
can be forwarded to the king, and permits
sion obtained for him to, travel through
the country. In the case of explorers and
hunters, there is usually little difficulty
but traders are required to procure some
responsible citizen of the country to be
their guarantee that they shall deal hon
orably, and pay all the debts they con.
tract. The religion OF the country is in
many respects so much like the Parsees as
to induce the belief that the Ovas belong
to that race, or have been under its tuition
They are not idolators, but believe in a
Supreme Being, the Creator, who is omni:
present, omhipotent and omniscient. and
whose symbols are the sun and the fir,
and to these they pay homage as his repre-
sentatives, bat Offer no sacrifice to them.
They keep the sacred Gre certainly bdrnng,
and the princes, who are also priests
ent,ust to thet daughters; and sometimes
to their wives, the duty of experimenting
these sacred fires. The Ovas also believe
in the existence Of o very powerful evil
spirit, who is not, however, omniscient nor
omnipresent and to his interference they
attribute their misfortunes and accidents
but they Offer no sacrifice to him. They
are said to be an honest Industrious and
temperate people, far more regatdfnl Of
their word, and uidre ohservau. of good
morals than most ofthe African nations.