THE author's tent TAKES FIKE. 299 



on the surface when immersed in water. To the porosity of 

 the bone may be ascribed its healing quaHties, if it actually 

 possesses any ; for which reason, any other substance made 

 up of capillary tubes, as common sponge, for instance, might 

 perhaps be equally efficacious." 



To resume : Our journey to Rehoboth was unattended with 

 any very remarkable incident, and we reached that place 

 in safety after an absence of twenty-three days. 



CHAPTER XXV. 



The Author's Tent takes Fire. — He loses every thing but his Papers. 

 — He is laid on a bed of Sickness. — Want of Medicine, &c. — Re- 

 flections. — AVhole Villages infected with Fever. — Abundance of 

 Game. — Extraordinary Shot at an Ostrich. — A Lion breakfasts on 

 his Wife. — Wonderful shooting Star. — Remarkable Mirage. — Game 

 and Lions plentiful, — The Ebony-tree. — Arrival at Bethany, a 

 Missionary Station. — The Trouble of a large Herd of Cattle.^-A 

 thirsty Man's Cogitation. — Curious Superstition. — The Damara Cat- 

 tle described. — People who live entirely without Water. — Cross the 

 Orange River. — Sterile Country. 



The old adage, " Misfortunes never come singly," was ex- 

 emplified in my case. The wound in my leg being novr 

 nearly healed, we were preparing to leave Rehoboth, when 

 one evening my hut accidentally caught fire, and, being en- 

 tirely constructed of dry grass and sticks, it was burnt to 

 the ground before any thing of moment could be saved. By 

 rushing through the flames, however, I fortunately succeeded 

 in preser^^ng the greater part of my papers and memoranda, 

 which to me were invaluable. I also rescued my saddle ; 

 but, in so doing, my clothes took fire, and I had a very nar- 

 row escape from being burnt to death. A shirt, a pair of 

 trowsers, a cap, and a pair of under-done shoes, which had 

 not been long enough at the fire to be thoroughly roasted, 

 were all that was left me. My situation, consequently, was 

 not very enviable. Through the kindness of Messrs. Klein- 



