NECTAR THE " EYE" OF A SPRING DISAPPOINTMENT. 387 



with something at the bottom reflecting light. Taking for 

 granted that it was water which thus shone, and being tor- 

 mented with thirst, I leaped into the hole and greedily swal- 

 lowed a large quantity. I was too eager to be able to dis- 

 tinguish its taste, but, having somewhat slaked my burning 

 thirst, my palate resumed its function, and I thought I had 

 never experienced so abominable a flavor. Imagine my hor- 

 ror when, taking a small portion in the hollow of my hand 

 and holding it up to the light, I found I had been drinking 

 blood, mixed with the refuse of some wild animal ! I shall 

 never forget the loathing I felt on making this discovery, and, 

 though my stomach was presently relieved of its nauseous 

 contents, I long retained a qualmish sensation. The myste- 

 ry was, however, cleared up. On a more close examination 

 of the aperture in question, it was found that a herd of zebras 

 had, like myself, been looking for water, and, in so doing, one 

 of them had fallen in, and been found and killed by the Bush- 

 men. Hence the blood and offal of the unfortunate animal. 



As soon as the men arrived with the cattle, every person 

 who could be spared was employed in cleaning out the hole 

 where I had at first seen indications of water. Large frag- 

 ments of rock, which the bulky forms of elephants and other 

 gigantic animals had pushed into the cavity, were removed 

 after immense exertions. Occasionally, in displacing a firm- 

 ly-imbedded stone or piece of wood, the pure liquid would 

 gush forth with great vigor, and we flattered ourselves that 

 we had found the " eye" of a spring, but the next instant all 

 our hopes vanished. After eight or nine hours' hard work, 

 our best endeavors to discover any steady supply of water 

 proved abortive. The little we did obtain — sufiicient for the 

 horse and dogs — was of such questionable quality that, thirsty 

 as we were, it was with the utmost repugnance we could pre- 

 vail on ourselves to swallow a few mouthfuls. 



At break of day the next morning we renewed our labors, 

 but with no better success. I now became anxious for the 



