156 THE GREAT THIRST LAND. 



After our midday meal, I started forward on 

 horseback to find out whether the ford of the 

 Vaal river was passable, or whether it would be 

 necessary to go lower down the stream to where 

 there was a punt. 



The nature of the country was much changed; instead 

 of the flat velt covered with grass, the whole surface 

 of the country is a succession of hills, clothed with 

 dwarf timber. In consequence of this alteration in the 

 landscape I lost my way, and wandered some time, yet 

 hoping to find a track leading to the river, which I 

 was aware must be due north. 



At length I struck the trail of a wagon, which 

 following up brought me first to a cattle kraal, then 

 through an orchard, and afterwards to two houses, one 

 inhabited, the other going through the course of con- 

 struction. I went to the door of the former, and there 

 met an old man ; I asked for vater, and he shouted to 

 some one within, " Faterf" with stentorian lungs. At 

 length an aged woman came out, looked at me, gave a 

 grunt, and turned on her heel. My appearance, it was 

 quite certain, did not please her. Prom her expression 

 I was satisfied that I should have to go without a 

 drink. I was about to give up the task as hopeless, 

 when she came again to the door, took a long stare 

 and snorted, then retired into the interior of her 

 dwelling. 



She was the most comical-looking old woman I had 

 ever seen ; her height was equal to her breadth, and 

 round her face hung a fringe of diminutive white curls. 

 For a quarter of an hour I waited, still neither she nor 

 the water came. In the adjoining tenement I heard 

 hammering, and an occasional snatch of " The Wearing 



