376 THE GREAT THIRST LAND. 



with the disease. Of course, not speaking the language 

 of my people is a great drawback ; and they again are 

 equally ignorant of mine. Thus I may frequently mis- 

 understand them. Again the fever, and the debility 

 resulting from it, with other causes, have made me very 

 fractious, and make me give way to temper when any- 

 thing occurs through their negligence. Among the 

 natives of this land no greater mistake can be committed, 

 for they construe it into evidence of weakness, and weak 

 I truly was. They possess the most wonderful imper- 

 turbable tempers themselves, and look at a want of it 

 in others as the essence of childishness. 



This evening I had cause to complain. I went to 

 bed early, after seeing the fires made up, the cattle 

 secure, and, in fact, everything in ship-shape order, 

 giving Umganey parting instructions to see that more 

 wood was collected. About midnight I was awoke by 

 Ruby jerking against her halter, which was secured 

 around the upper felloe of one of the hind wheels. 

 Turning out to see what was the matter, I discovered 

 that the fires had burned down to only a few coals, and 

 that there was not a branch near to revive them with. 

 I called for Umganey, the driver, and foreloper, in suc- 

 cession, but received no answer. Again and again I 

 shouted, but with the same result. That they had 

 deserted en masse was my first thought ; but whether 

 this was true or not, the fires must be replenished. A 

 decayed mimosa I had observed in the early part of the 

 day about a hundred jards off. To it I directed my 

 steps, and commenced wrenching off the limbs. When 

 engaged only a few minutes in this occupation, I was 

 stung in the right wrist by a scorpion. The pain was 

 intense. Still, I could not desist, firewood must be had 



