286 ADVENTURES IN SOUTH AFRICA. 



er trekking about six miles we reached a deep gravel, 

 hole beside a mass of red granite rock, at the bottom 

 of which there was about a bucketful of spring water; 

 and here was the fresh spoor of a huge bull elephant, 

 which had scooped out large portions of the gravel with 

 his trunk on the preceding evening, but on turning 

 about he had entirely undone what he had accomplish- 

 ed by trampling it down- again into the well with his 

 huge feet. 



On inspecting the spot I fancied that by digging we 

 might obtain a little water for the unfortunate cattle, 

 which at this moment was an object of the utmost im- 

 portance, the fountain of Corriebely being still very 

 distant. I accordingly set to work hard with all my 

 followers, assisted by the Bechuanas ; and having re- 

 moved an immense quantity of the gravel, I had the 

 satisfaction to discover a small spring of excellent wa- 

 ter, which issued from beneath the granite rock, and 

 ran as fast as we could catch it in our pails. I then 

 placed my large flesh-pot near the pit, and ordering the 

 men to bring up the cattle in small detachments, we 

 bailed out the water as fast as they could drink it, the 

 buckets being handed along by a line of men extending 

 up the gravel bank to the cattle, and thus, in a short 

 time, every one of them obtained a sufficiency. This 

 opportune supply of water was to me invaluable, my 

 poor dogs having also been much distressed, and requir- 

 ing water no less than the cattle. 



With renewed spirits we continued our journey, and 

 at sundown we halted about half way to Corriebely. 

 On the march two of the oxen evinced distress, and we 

 were obliged to outspan them and allow them to follow 

 slowly with the loose cattle. About 10 o'clock on the 

 following morning I reached Corriebely, and was most 



