244 ADVENTURES IN SOUTH AFRICA. 



would be laughing at me, on seeing me compelled to 

 retrace my steps. One of the greatest difficulties that 

 presented itself was, that, if I rode in advance to search 

 for water, it would be almost impossible to find my way 

 back to the wagons through that vast and trackless 

 forest. I went to bed, but tried in vain to sleep. Care 

 and anxiety kept me awake until a little before morn- 

 ing, when I fell asleep for a short time, and dreamed 

 that I had ridden in advance and found water. Day 

 dawned, and I awoke in sorrow. My hopes were like 

 a flickering flame ; care sat upon my brow. I cast loose 

 my horses and oxen, and prepared some breakfast ; I 

 then directed my men to catch " The Cow" and "Coles- 

 berg," and give them some corn. I asked the guides 

 if they could lead me to water in a northerly direction, 

 when they replied that no man ever found water in the 

 desert. I did not talk more with them, but ordered my 

 men to remain quiet during the day and listen for shots, 

 lest I should lose my way in returning; and having 

 given them ammunition to reply, I saddled up and held 

 N.N.E. through thick forests, accompanied by Klein- 

 boy. The ground was heavy, being soft sand, and the 

 grass grew at intervals in detached bunches. We rode 

 on without a break or a change, and found no spoor of 

 wild animals to give me hope. I saw one duiker, but 

 these antelopes are met with in the desert, and are in- 

 dependent of water. 



At last we reached a more open part of the forest, 

 and, emerging from the thicket, I perceived a troop of 

 six or eight beautiful giraffes standing looking at us 

 about two hundred yards to my right; but this was no 

 time to give them chase, which I felt very much in- 

 clined to do. I allowed them to depart in peace, and 

 continued my search for water. In this open glade I 



