APPENDIX. 245 
still about an hour behind us. I was afraid that we should 
have injured ourselves with the immense quantity of water 
which we drank; but no evil effects followed. We found 
the springs here so small, that no more than one horse could 
drink at a time; after which we were obliged to let it fill 
again before another could be supplied. About an hour's 
rest under a small bush considerably revived us, and after 
eating a small carbonatje, we again proposed to resume our 
journey. Gibson had informed us that, after leaving this 
plain, we should find no water for twenty-four hours, so I 
filled our sheep’s paunch, which I balanced across one of 
my horses’ backs with the mutton still remaining in the 
sheep skin. An empty bottle which we also got from Mr. G. 
was filled, and with that supply, I trusted, by travelling 
all night, to be able to cross the desert without danger. 
Saver and my Hottentots were very much opposed to cross- 
ing this desert, wishing by all means to continue with the 
Griquas, who were bent upon returning by the same way 
they had come, which was by the Hart River; but I was 
well aware of the danger of going that way, knowing that 
by that route we should find nobody for some weeks but 
Bechuanas, Corannas, or Griquas, from whom I am con- 
vinced we should have obtained no food, deprived as we were 
of the means of purchasing it from those who might have it: 
but the most of them have nothing but locusts, a sort of food 
I had not much relish for; whereas, if we took the way to 
Mateto, with the exertion of two days and nights’ hard 
travelling, we should be certain to find Christian Mis- 
sionaries, by whom I was sure all our wants would be 
bountifully supplied. 
Our horses were all ready saddled, when on looking in 
the direction whence we had come, we saw a person slowly 
advancing on horseback ;—it was Cobus, the son of the 
