372 THE GREAT THIRST LAND. 



necklace, with locket pendant and a bracelet. These 

 were of Birmingham manufacture, and were so well 

 made, and so thoroughly resisted tarnishing, that any 

 hut an adept would have thought them gold. The 

 delight of these primitive people when they saw the 

 locket opened and shut was enthusiastic. 



To the beauty I gave the handsomest ; it was shown 

 to all for inspection, and every time she caught my eye 

 looking at her she clapped her hands and laughed and 

 laughed again. An hour after she came to the wagon 

 looking rather glum, and without her ornaments; she 

 did not understand me, or I should have asked what 

 had become of them ; but this I soon discovered, for 

 the great guide soon after came to my fire with them 

 upon his ungainly person. He was not long in giving 

 up his booty. 



When the wagon started all came along with it as in 

 days gone by ; but after a few miles their ranks com- 

 menced to thin, yet none left without bidding me 

 farewell. The last I saw of my Massara was a group 

 of nine or ten standing in the road looking after the 

 wagon; when they saw that I observed them they 

 gave a wild shout and darted off across the velt. 



It has been treck, treck, treck, since I commenced to 

 narrate my adventures ; if the word bores the reader, 

 just let him think how much more it bored me. Want 

 of water I have had many experiences of, but the 

 following was the severest ordeal I had to endure. 

 Thank God it was so, or I should not be here to tell it. 

 From a dirty pool, alive with animal life, we had wound 

 our tedious way to some springs we had heard of with the 

 hope of getting my cattle an abundant supply of water 

 before we commenced to cross a space of desolate sand velt, 



