a lake of Southern Africa, lying between S. Lat. 20. 23. and 20. 40.; E. Long. 22. 30. and 24. Reports of the existence of this lake had been received a long time before it was actually reached by European travellers; it occurs on Portuguese maps as early as 1508; and its position was laid down with considerable accuracy nearly twenty years before it was visited by Livingston, Murray, and Oswell, July 28, 1849. They approached it from the south, having crossed the Kalahari Desert, which had for a long time presented an insuperable obstacle to any attempts to explore the country in this direction. Four years afterwards the lake was again reached by Mr. Anderson, who, following a course which had been formerly deemed impracticable, started from Walvisch Bay, on the W. coast of Africa, arrived at the western end of the Ngami, and then travelled round a great part of its banks. The discovery is of very great interest and importance, not only because it enlarges our knowledge of the geography and natural history of the interior of Africa, but also as it may tend to open up those hitherto inaccessible regions to the influences of commerce, civilization, and religion. The lake is known by the natives under various names, derived from its different characteristics, such as Ingbate, or the "Giraffe;" Nokha ka Mohorou, or the "Lake of Boats," &c.; but that which has been adopted by Europeans is Ngami, which signifies "The Waters." Its size was at first somewhat over-estimated, on account of the low and almost undistinguishable character of part of its banks, and in consequence of the original discoverers having mistaken its length for its breadth. It extends from E. to W., having a length of about 40 miles, a breadth at the widest part of 10, and an average breadth of 8 miles. Its circumference is about 70 or 80 miles, and its area about 295 square miles. Its shape is somewhat like that of a pair of spectacles, being narrow in the middle and spreading out at each end to a considerable width. Its northern bank is lined by a low and sandy tract of country, entirely destitute of vegetation. This region has a breadth of about a mile, beyond which distance the country is thickly wooded with various kinds of acacia and other trees, among which the enormous baobab is here and there seen raising its head habits of politeness and etiquette than from real kindness or disposition. They are much given to revenge, but easily appeased by presents. The prevailing vice among this people is theft, and even their chiefs are not safe from their pilfering propensities. They have no religion, nor any notions of a Supreme Being; but they believe implicitly in wizards, and especially in the "rain-makers," although they frequently put them to death when disappointed in their expectations. The government is monarchical and patriarchal, each tribe being governed by a chief, who resides in the principal town, and has under him several inferior chiefs at the head of the smaller towns and villages. These inferior chieftains maintain a check on the power of the king, which is in other respects despotic. They assemble in meetings called pichor, where speeches are often heard of considerable ability and even eloquence. The principal town of the Batoana tribe is situated at the east end of the lake, on the north bank of the Zouga. The principal articles of commerce that have yet been found in the lake district are hides and furs of different sorts, ostrich feathers, rhinoceros' horns, and ivory; while the natives demand in exchange beads and ammunition, but especially the latter. (See Lake Ngami; or, Explorations and Discoveries during Four Years' Wandering in the Wilds of South-Western Africa, by Charles John Anderson, London, 1856; and Livingston's Travels and Memoirs.)