298 THE GREAT THIRST LAND. 



If you had an opportunity of examining the freight of 

 many of these saddled cattle, you would find it probably 

 far more valuable than you expected fine ivory, 

 worth even here eight and sixpence a pound; and 

 blood ostrich-feathers, which the traders down on the 

 flat will be glad to obtain for half a sovereign 

 apiece. 



Before reaching the spring, on high ground over- 

 looking the road, stand on the left Mr. Mackenzie's 

 house, and on the right Mr. Hepburn's, both mission- 

 aries, and employed by the London Missionary Society. 

 These buildings are plain and unostentatious, but 

 comfortable. Near the former stands a large white 

 building, which does duty for church and school-house. 



But no vegetation ornaments the locality, water is too 

 scarce and precious to be spared for irrigation, and without 

 it vegetable life will not flourish. At the back of both 

 these gentlemen's houses the hills rise to the height of 

 eight or nine hundred feet, and their slope, which is 

 very steep, is covered with immense and apparently 

 loose boulders, that the least shake of earthquake would 

 send crashing into the valley beneath in one gigantic 

 avalanche. In fact, a few years ago, a rock of great 

 size fell from the summit, and now remains lodged 

 where the path once ran. 



On the side of the village next the plain, the three 

 or four traders, who compose the European community, 

 have their cottages and stores, the principal of which is 

 rather a large building surrounded with a strong up- 

 right picket fence. In this yard water has been 

 obtained by sinking a well thirty feet ; but in case 

 Soshong should be attacked by an enemy, this, 

 doubtless, would be filled up, for the strength of the 



