C. J. Andersson, _Lake Ngami_ (London, 1856), p. 230; J. Chapman, _Travels in the Interior of South Africa_ (London, 1868), i. 325; J. Hahn, “Die Ovaherero,” _Zeitschrift der Gesellschaft für Erdkunde zu Berlin_, iv. (1869) pp. 244-247, 250; C. J. Büttner, _Das Hinterland von Walfischbai und Angra Pequena_ (Heidelberg, 1884), pp. 228 _sq._; H. Schinz, _Deutsch-Südwest-Afrika_, pp. 158-161; J. Irle, _Die Herero_, pp. 32 _sqq._, 113.
Francis Galton, _Narrative of an Explorer in Tropical South Africa_ 3rd Ed., (London, 1890), p. 116; J. Hahn, _op. cit._ iv. (1869), p. 247; H. Schinz, _op. cit._ p. 155; J. Irle, _Die Herero_, pp. 111 _sq._
H. Schinz, _op. cit._ pp. 155-157; compare J. Hahn, _op. cit._ iv. (1869) p. 499; J. Irle, _Die Herero_, p. 78; E. Dannert, _Zum Rechte der Herero_, pp. 4 _sq._ At first sight Dr. Schinz’s account appears to differ slightly from that given by the Rev. G. Viehe, who says: “In the werfts of the Ovaherero, the houses of the chief are on the eastern side. Next to these, towards the west, follow, one after another, the holy house (_otyizero_), the place of the holy fire (_okuruo_), and the kraal [_i.e._ the calves’ pen] (_otyunda_); thus the _otyizero_ is on the east, and the _otyunda_ on the west side of the _okuruo_” (“Some Customs of the Ovaherero,” _South African Folk-lore Journal_, i. (1879) p. 62). But it seems clear that by the chief’s house Mr. Viehe means what Dr. Schinz calls the house of the great wife; and that what Mr. Viehe calls the holy house is the open space between the sacred hearth and the house of the great wife or chief. That space is described as the holy ground by Dr. Schinz, who uses that phrase (“_der geweihte Boden_”) as the equivalent of the native _otyizero_. Thus the two writers are in substantial agreement with each other. On the other hand Dr. C. H. Hahn gives the name of _otyizero_ or sacred house to “the chief house of the chief, in front of which is the place of the holy fire.” He adds that “the chief has several houses, according to the number of wives, each wife having her own hut” (_South African Folk-lore Journal_, ii. (1880) p. 62, note 1.) The name _otyizero_ seems to be derived from _zera_, “sacred,” “taboo.” See G. Viehe, _op. cit._ pp. 39, 41, 43; Rev. E. Dannert, in (_South African_) _Folk-lore Journal_, ii. (1880) pp. 63, 65, 105, and the editor’s note, _ib._ p. 93.