361. Mr. W. R. Ogilvie-Giaut on 



enormous migrations of tliese Desert-Doves, else tliey would 

 die by millions from thirst; for towards the end of the dry 

 season all but the deep wells run dry and they cannot obtain 

 water from them. There are two kinds of birds the sight or 

 sound of which gladden the heart of the traveller in the 

 Kalahari — Doves and Bulbuls. Their presence is an abso- 

 lutely sure indication that water is at no great distance, for I 

 believe both these birds must have it every day. It is rather 

 remarkable that on this dry pan at Ohe we saw three 

 Avocets and two Stilts, locdcing, and no doubt feeling, like 

 the proverbial Pelican. Probably they had been passing 

 over at night, and being deceived by the glistening dry pan 

 had come doom, thinking it was water. 



The remaining hundred miles from Ohe to Okwa was a 

 very [)leasant part of the journej^, as sarma were abundant 

 the whole way and we were consequently able to travel more 

 slowly. The oxen and horses did not suffer in the least from 

 thirst, and most oL' them would not drink on arrival at Okwa, 

 after having been eight days without water. 



The problems and ditficulties of travelling in the Kalahari 

 are almost entirely summed up in the two words " water ^' 

 and " sarma." 



Okwa Spruit is a fine broad valley, at the bottom of 

 wliich is the rocky bed of a periodical stream that only runs 

 during the rains. There were still some good pools of 

 water standing in the bed, on one of which we found two 

 Pink-billed Teal. There seems little doubt that this fine 

 spruit runs north-east across the desert into the Botletle 

 River near Rakop^s. 



From Okwa avc had little difficulty, so far as water was 

 concerned, in reaching Ngamiland, a distance of about a 

 hundred and sixty miles ; but we had great difficulty in finding 

 the way, as we discovered before reaching Okwa that the 

 guide we had taken from Lehutitu kncAV rather less about 

 the road than we did ourselves, and we Avere unable to get 

 another. To make matters worse, only one wagon had been 

 along this track during the last six years, so that in places 

 no traces of it were to be seen. 



