APPENDIX. 241 
without any appearance of water, and now in the strictest 
silence we pursued our dreary way through the long grass 
and low thorny bushes with which this country is covered, 
not knowing but our enemies might be close behind us. 
About ten o'clock we saw a light which we approached with 
great caution, being ignorant whether it was made by friend 
or foe. Having first reconnoitred, we found to our joy that 
it was a Bechuana kraal ; to our eager cries of “ Se wertoe !” 
“ give us some water ;” the women stowed themselves away 
in their huts, and the men flew to their assagais and battle- 
axes, for they knew not what to think of our untimely visit 
and picturesque appearance. But after some explanation 
of our mishap, some dirty ostrich egg-shells were handed 
to us, containing a mixture of mud and water, which had it 
- been Hodgson’s pale ale, could not have been sucked out 
quicker or with more relish. These poor people, on hearing 
of the Matebely, prepared immediately to decamp, and one 
of them shewed us asmall dirty pool about a mile from 
their huts, which supplied them with water. Here we 
saddled off for a few minutes, (keeping a good look out all 
the time,) to let our poor horses drink, as they had had no 
water all day. 
The moon getting up, we resumed our monotonous 
journey, and after travelling many a weary mile, we fre- 
quently stood still to listen for the cheering strains of some 
amorous frog, which, in our present forlorn situation, was 
likely to be our only index to water; for our thirst was still 
unassuaged, notwithstanding the copious draughts we had 
inhaled from the Bechuana egg-shells and the dirty con- 
tents of the pool. The sweet music of the frogs, however, 
never reached our ears, and at dawn of day we laid down 
under a bush completely exhausted from fatigue and thirst. 
Half an hour’s nap revived us a little, and we again pro- 
VOL. Il. R 
“> 
