216 DAYS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT. 



I found a tree close at hand that suited for a tem- 

 porary dissel-boom. My American experience with 

 the axe in the lumber regions did me good service, 

 for soon I had the pole blocked out with an adze, 

 the eye reduced to the proper size, and the 2-in. 

 auger in a few minutes cut the necessary hole for 

 a fresh skimmel-pin ; so, before an hour had expired 

 from the time of the accident occurring, we were 

 again under way. 



An hour before day we entered a forest of quite 

 respectable timber, and entirely free from underbush, 

 where we outspanned in close vicinity to a cattle- 

 kraal. Here coffee was enjoyed, enriched by an 

 abundant supply of milk obtained from the herdsmen 

 in charge of it ; when again the word was inspan- 

 dmba ! amaga / and ere the sun was an hour high, 

 we halted on the summit of a bluff overlooking the 

 long-sought Honey Vley. All knew we had still 

 some miles to go before water could be obtained, 

 but the scene before us was so beautiful that none 

 appeared in a hurry to depart. 



The vley, which is about three miles long, but 

 much less wide, resembled exactly one of those 

 diminutive lakes to be found in Scotland, the water 

 breaking gently on the shores, with silent filmy mists 

 rising from it, while cattle, that is, vildebeeste, walked 

 along the opposite margin. Water was not expected 

 here, but could we disbelieve our eyes ? No, cer- 



