144 HOTMAN'S STORY. 



I determined to go out and have a look for some water, 

 and if I found any, to lead the waggons to it at once. 

 I climbed up a tree near the outspan, and thought that 

 I saw a line of bushes some distance off that showed like 

 the presence of water. Taking with me Karl, a Hotten- 

 tot, who was worth his weight in gold, spoored and 

 rode well, a steady hand with elephants, and seldom 

 got drunk or told lies, all great recommendations for a 

 Totty, we started away to the bushy place which I had 

 seen, leaving my other Hottentot and three Kaffirs with 

 the waggons. 



" All my horses had died of the sickness, arid several 

 of the oxen were very bad with the same disease. I gave 

 directions that my Kaffirs were not to leave the waggons 

 until I returned, as elephants were near them, and 

 I wished them to keep a fire burning night and day, as a 

 protection. Enough water was in the vlei to last two 

 or three days, with care. We had scooped out a hole, 

 and to obtain water, dipped the small tin cans in it till we 

 got a pailful, which we gave then to the oxen. I had 

 ordered the Kaffirs to drive the oxen far away, and to 

 make them fast when they came near, so that the vlei might 

 not be trampled in, and the water consequently spoiled. 



" Karl and I trudged on for some miles to a little 'kop/ 

 where we hoped to get a better view round. There was still 

 an appearance of water in the direction where I had first 

 expected, and we made towards it -, we arrived there about 

 sundown, and found not a drop a few stunted bushes 

 were all that could be seen. We lighted a fire, and had 

 a little beltong meat dried in the sun for supper. The day 

 had been very hot, and I was thirsty already, but was 



