SUFFERINGS OF MY CATTLE. 389 



rendering at discretion. He had done nothing but 

 leave, and this doubtless at the instigation of the others, 

 so I determined to have no words with him then, but 

 wait till I could bring him before his chief in the kotla. 



Next day, we all took turns driving and foreloping. 

 The latter was too hard work for one person to continue 

 constantly at. By night we reached a large vley, where 

 we hoped to find water. Alas ! it was dry ; and then 

 thirty miles more had to be traversed before there was 

 the slightest possibility of getting any. 



The trials we all had that night were fearful. 

 Slowly, almost by inches, the wagon toiled on, for the 

 sand was deep enough to cover the felloes of the wheels. 

 The poor oxen ! my heart bled for them. Their throats 

 were so parched they could not low, while their insides 

 produced a grating noise, as if two hard substances were 

 being rubbed together. The boys, with the usual im- 

 providence of their respective races, had used or wasted 

 their supply of water, but I still had a little remaining 

 in my fachey. I could not spare them any, for I had 

 already denied myself drink, that I might sponge out 

 Buby's mouth, so as to reduce her sufferings as much as 

 possible. 



At midnight we outspanned for a couple of hours. 

 We lit only one fire, and, dejected and down- spirited, 

 cowered over it. We had no fear of wild animals. 

 Here, so far from water, they were not likely to be 

 found. Whether or no, I do not think any of us cared 

 very much if they did pay us a visit. 



Before trecking, I went to my fachey to draw a 

 small tin of water to divide between the mare and 

 myself. The oxen smelt it, and became in a moment 

 like mad animals. Shouts and blows reduced them all 



