52 ARRIVAL AT DAVIEP. 



to leave the poor animal to its fate, trusting, however, that 

 when the atmosphere should become a little cooler, it would 

 follow on our track. We dared not stop, nor would delay 

 have been of any avail, for as far as the eye could reach 

 neither bush nor blade of grass was to be seen. 



In the early morning I rode one of the horses, but after a 

 time, observing that some of the men looked jaded and faint, 

 I dismounted, and gave it up to them, proceeding myself on 

 foot during the remainder of the day. JVIr. Galton had rid- 

 den in advance on the other shore, and when we met I was 

 almost speechless from thirst, with my mouth and hps dread- 

 fully parched. Often subsequently have I suiFered cruelly 

 from want of water, and for a much longer period than on 

 the present occasion, but never do I remember to have been 

 so much distressed as now; for though from childhood ac- 

 customed and inured to privations of all kinds, I had not pre- 

 viously experienced the effect of thirst under a tropical sun. 



Again we left our cart some little way from the river, and 

 drove the thirsty and weary animals loose to the water, which 

 was fortunately not far distant ; but, though men and beasts 

 drank to repletion, the water seemed to have lost its prop- 

 erty, for our best endeavors to slake our thirst proved una- 

 vailing. 



The name of the place was Daviep, and it was reported 

 to be a favorite resort of lions, who regularly reared their 

 young in a neighboring mountain, called Tineas, whence they 

 made predatory excursions. We accordingly lost no time in 

 reconnoitring the ground ; but, not finding any indications 

 of the presence of lions, or even that they had haunted the 

 place lately, we had little apprehension of their paying us a 

 visit; and as the mules and horses sadly wanted rest and 

 food, we deemed it advisable to leave them to themselves 

 during the night, merely taking the precaution to "knee- 

 halter" them. We paid dearly, however, for our too easy 

 confidence. 



