INHABITED COTTAGE. 



127 



those which had been loaded with provisions 

 were, of course, in part relieved, and the largest 

 load, that of my trunk and case of bottles, was 

 carried by each of them in turn, that the hard 

 work might be equally divided. This day we 

 passed some deserted cottages. Our night was 

 verv miserable, for some of the horses refused 

 to finish their feeds of maize ; the danger of 

 their failing prevented our thinking so much of 

 our own inconvenience — my spirits were kept 

 up by the necessity I felt of keeping up those 

 of others. John was not quite well, and this 

 made me uneasy, as it was as much as we could 

 do to carry ourselves ; indeed, had any of the 

 party fallen sick, I know not how we should 

 have proceeded. 



The next morning, about nine o'clock, we 

 reached a well to our great joy, but, fortunately 

 for us, the water was so bad, that we could not 

 drink much ; it was as usual dirty and brackish, 

 but of the first draught I shall never forget the 

 delight j — when I tried a second, I could not 

 take it, the taste was so very nauseous. On 

 looking round, we saw some goats, Julio went 

 towards them, and then discovered some fowls, 

 proceeded a little farther and found an inhabited 

 cottage. He came and gave us the joyful in- 

 telligence ; we determined to remain here to 

 rest, if the people could give us any hopes of 

 food for our horses. I found an elderly woman 



