The union Democrat., 1869-08-21
Gts unian gemurrat.
New Race Discovered.

In the southwestern portion of Africa is o
tract about 800 Hsiles in breadth, from north
10 south. and between 400 and 500 miles in
length. from east 10 west, laid down on the
maps az IIerero Land or Dumara Land Ii
extends from the CuLene river on tho north,
10 the Wrl6sch Bag. on the SOUTH and from
the coast to Lake Nagami, in the interior.
Very few Europeans have visited il; three
elephant hunters only, between 1857 and
1864, Anderson, whose works on Lake Nh
gami,n &C., are so we'll known. Green aud
SHUTS. Anderson was so much pleased with
the country that be purchased large tract
Of land there and raised some thousands Of
cattle. lie died there iu the early part Of the
present year.
There are two races iahabitiag the country
the Bechuanas. who occupy some krdais
or villages in the central and northern uart,
but who are in dependent condition,
aud the Osas OF several trihes-Ovamha,
Ovsrkereis, Ovambautiers, ovamguari, Ova-
keuenania, Ovamhuere. ctc.-a rr1 race.
with long hair. curly but never wooly, reg
ular features and fine forms. These are the
ruling race. and exhibit high degree of in
teligence, ami many characteristics which
Indicate their Asiatic origin. They are gov
erned by king-of the Ovambo race, who
resides at Ondonga. He is assisted in the
government by n council, without whose cou-
sent he cannot execute any measure. Each
tribe has its prince and its territory, and the
princes are subject to the king and cou"cil,
by whom. fer any offense against the laws.
they may he deposel or put 10 death. Each
principalitv is divided into districts, govern
ed by chiefs, who are amiable to tie princes.
but have an appeal to the king and council.
Their roads are excellent, and each has an
inspector, whose business ir is 10 see that
every person coming into the kingdom Is
stopped and entertained until his name and
purposes can be forwarded to the king, aud
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 RESPONSE
BILE citizen of the country to be their guar
antee that they shall deal honorably and pay
all the debts they contract. The religion oi
the country is, in many respects. so much
like that Of the Pnrsees as TO induce the be-
lief TINT the Ovas belong 10 that race, or have
been under its tuition. They are not idola-
ters, but believe in a supreme being. the
Creator, who is omnipresent, omnipotent.
and omniscient, and whose symbols are rho
sun and the fire, and to these they pay lom-
n1e as his representatives, hut offer nn sacri
fees to them. They keep the sacred fire con-
stantly burning, and the princes. who are
also priests, entrust TO their daughters, and
sometimes to their wives, the duty of super
intending these sacred fires. The Ovns also
believe in the existence Of 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 sacrifices to him. They are
said to be an honest industrious and iem-
perate people, are more regardful cf their
word and more observant of good morals
than most of the African nations.-From the
ObOerrer.