CHAPTER XV. 



INSUBORDINATION. 

 Cookey Moonlight Carrion Feeders. 



SEVERAL natives visited the wagons soon after sun- 

 down, two of whom I knew, and in whose word I had 

 implicit confidence. They reported a great scarcity 

 of water on the route I intended travelling, and that 

 there was not more than a sufficiency of the precious 

 fluid in the vley in our front where I had at least 

 expected to find an abundance, and remain a week 

 for twenty-four hours' use, and moreover, what existed 

 was so tramped and polluted by game that it was 

 scarcely fit to be utilised. Upon this information 

 my friend and self had a consultation, the result being 

 that we resolved to trek that evening as soon as the 

 moon rose, and we did so at about half-past nine. 

 When our decision was communicated to our 

 attendants, it was easy to see that it was most dis- 



