The Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1869-1872, 1869-07-31
A New Race Discovered.

In the southwestern portion OF Africa j. 4
tract about 800 miles in breadth from north
to south, and between 400 and SEQ miles in
length, from east to west, laid down OH the
maps as Herero Land or Damara Land II
extends from the Cunene river, on the north
TO the Walfsch Bay, on the south, and from
the coast to Lake Ngami. in the interior
Very few Europeans have visited it three
elephant hunters only, betwe cen So and 1851
Anderson, whose works on lake Nugami. "
&c, are so well known, Green and SHUTS.
Anderson was So much pleased with the
country that he purchased a large tract of Land
there and raised some thousands Of cattle
He died there il the early part Ui the present
yer.
There are two races inhabitinS the country
the Bechuauas. who occupy some krIals o.:
villages in the central and northern parI, but
Who are in a dependent condition. and the
Ovas, of several tribes-Ovambo. Ovarkereis
Ovambantieru, Ovamguari, Oyakuenanla.
Ovambuere, etc.--a red race, with long hair.
curly but never wholly, regular features and
hne 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 a king
OF the Oyambo race, who resides at ON
donga. He is assisted in the government bv
council, 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 whom. for
any offense against the laws, they may be de
posed or put to death. Each principalitv is
divided into districts, governed by chiefs. who
are amenable to the princes, bat have an APP
peal to the king and council. Their roads are
excellent. and each has an Inspector whose
business 1t is TO see that every person coming
into the kingdom is stopped and entertained
until his name and purposes can be forwarded
to the king, and permission 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 he
their guarantee that they shall deal hunorablv
and pay all the debts they contract. The
religion OF the country is, in many respects,
so much like that of the Parsees as to induce
the belief that the Ovas belong to that race
or have been under its tuition. They are not
idolaters, but believe in a supreme being, the
Creator, who is omnipresent, omnipotent, and
omniscient, and whose symbols are the sun
and the fire, and to these they pay homage as
his representatives but offer no sacrifices to
them. They keep the sacred fire constantly
burning, and the princes, who are also priests.
entrust to their daughters, and sometimes to
their wives, the duty of experimenting these
sacred fires. The Ovas also believe in tho ca
istence OF very powerful evil spirit. who j.
not, however, omniscient nor omniuro. nj :
and TO his interference they attribute their
misfortunes and accidents, but they offer no
sacrifices to him. They are said TO be an
honest, industrious and temperate people. are
moro regardful of their word and more OBJ
servant OF good morals than most of the
African nations.-Erom The Observer.