60 



EXPEDITION INTO [Chap. VIII. 



the sun ; and the fierce httle eyes of the latter glis- 

 tening like fire beneath their shaggy forelocks. A 

 short chase was sufficient to seal the fate of three 

 quaggas — all males, averaging thirteen hands high. 

 During the run 1 had not seen a human being, and 

 fancied myself alone ; but I had scarcely discounted 

 to secure my game, when a woolly head protruded 

 itself from every bush, and in an instant I was sur- 

 rounded by thirty Barolongs, who having by signs 

 expressed their approbation of my performance, 

 proceeded to devour the carcase with the greatest 

 avidity — greedily drinking the blood, rubbing the 

 tat upon their bodies, and not leaving so much even 

 as the entrails for the birds of prey. 



Our unfortunate cattle had now tasted no water 

 for six-and-thirty hours, and we resolved to travel 

 day and night in search of this necessary of life. 

 The sun at length departed, darkness overtook us, 

 and no moon succeeded to guide our course ; when, 

 by a singular instinct, the two horses that we had 

 obtained from Captain Sutton, and which were con- 

 sequently acquainted with the road — suddenly se- 

 parated themselves from us, and galloped off. Fol- 

 lowing them up, the screaming of water-fowl 

 sounded like music in our ears, and we had the 

 gratification of perceiving a pond of mephitic water 

 a little to the right of the road. Both man and 

 beast appeared simultaneously apprized of the 

 cheering discovery— water was the universal cry — 

 the Hottentots rushed to the edge of the pond, and 

 throwing themselves on their faces, swallowed large 



