PEREIR0 AND YCO. 



12S 



beasts, and the former has the effect of appear- 

 ing to produce intoxication, and sometimes also 

 proves fatal. The major said, that this part of 

 the country abounded in these trees, and conse- 

 quently our horses were tied to those around us, 

 and to each was given a feed of maize. The 

 plant, of which I have spoken above, was very 

 beautiful, the green of its leaves was bright and 

 healthy, and I afterwards saw many more of 

 them upon this travesia or crossing. I particu- 

 larly observed them on this track of country, as 

 other plants had lost all appearance of life. 



We were less unpleasantly situated at night, 

 as the water, though brackish, was comparatively 

 clear. 



The following day we had still the same 

 country and river to cross. The consciousness 

 of having advanced upon our journey alone 

 caused the knowledge of a change of situation, 

 so exactly similar was the face of the country. 

 At mid-day we had again no shelter from 

 the sun. The water was little different from 

 that of the preceding day. I laid down under 

 the shady side of a rock, which afforded suf- 

 ficient shelter until the sun began to decline, 

 and throw its rays into the quarter under which 

 I had taken up my station. We had often seen 

 cattle about the pools or wells — on this occa- 

 sion, one miserable cow came down to drink ; 

 the major happened to be near the pool at the 



