THE WATER-ROOT. 109 



being the first day that the sky had been overcast oince 

 I had left the Thebus Flats. 



In the afternoon I resolved to ride far into the oryx 

 country, sleep under a busli, and hunt them on the fol- 

 lowing morning. I accordingly left my wagons about 

 3 P.M., with my two after-riders and a spare horse, 

 and rode about fifteen miles in a northerly course, when 

 we secured our horses to a bush, to leeward of which 

 we slept. On my way thither I dismounted on an arid 

 plain to breathe our steeds and dig up some bulbs of 

 the water-root* for immediate consumption, my thirst 



* This interesting root, which has doubtless saved many from dying 

 of thirst, is met with througliout the most parched plains of the Karroo. 

 It is a large oval bulb, varying from six to ten inches in diameter, and 

 is of an extremely juicy consistence, with rather au insipid flavor. It 

 is protected by a tiiin brown skin, which is easily removed with the 

 back of a knife. It has small, insignificant narrow leaves, with little 

 black dots on them, which ai'e not easily detected by an inexperienced 

 eye. The ground round it is so baked with the sun that it has to be 

 dug out with a knife. The top of the bulb is discovered about eii;ht or 

 nine inches from the surface of the ground, and the earth all round it 

 must then be carefully removed. A knowledge of this plant is invalu- 

 able to him whose avocations lead him into these desolate regions. 

 Throughout the ":vhole extent of the great Kalahari desert, and the vast 

 tl-acts of country adjoining thereto, au immense variety of bulbs and 

 roots of this juicy desci-iption succeed one another monthly, there being 

 hardly a season in the year at which the poor Bakalahari, provided with 

 a shaqi-pointed stick hardened in the fire, can not obtain a meal, being 

 intimately acquainted with each and all the herbs and roots which a 

 bountiful hand has provided for his .sustenance. There are also several 

 succideut plants, having thick, juicy leaves, which in like manner an- 

 swer the purpose of food and drink. 



Above all, a species of bitter water-melon is thickly scattered over 

 the entire surface of theknown parts of the great Kalahari desert. These 

 often supply the place of food and water to the wild inhabitants of those 

 remote regions, and it is stated by the Bakalahari that these melons im- 

 prove in flavor as they penetrate further to the west. Most of these 

 roots are much eaten by the gemsboks, which are led by instinct to 

 root them out. The elephants also, apprised by their acute sense of 

 smell of their position, feed upon them, and whole tracts may be seen 

 plowed up by the tusks of these sagacious animals, in quest of them. 



