98 SCARCITY OF WATER. 



On rising the next morning, we found that all 

 around, as far as the eye could reach, was a dry, sun- 

 burnt plain ; not a single vestige of vegetation was 

 anywhere to be seen, except the karroo bush, almost 

 as brown and barren as the ground on which it grew. 

 Here it was that, for the first time during this ex- 

 cursion, we began to experience the want of water, 

 and were under the necessity of digging deep into the 

 sand to obtain even a small quantity ; but as none 

 could be procured for the oxen, we were compelled 

 to proceed with all haste to a fountain, in an obscure 

 corner of the desert, from which, at some seasons of 

 the year, there flowed a considerable stream, and 

 where a farmer of the name of Snayman had taken 

 up his abode, in order that he might avail himself of 

 this spring. 



We reached the place about midnight, but found 

 the spring dried up, or nearly so, the proprietor and 

 his family having gone with their little flock to seek 

 support in some other part of the country. The 

 fig-tree, the almond, and the vine were scattered 

 about the grounds in wild disorder, parched up and 

 withered, presenting altogether a melancholy picture 

 of desolation, and seeming to proclaim the impotence 

 of man, when deprived of those showers from above, 

 without which all human efforts to till the stubborn soil 

 in this sterile region must prove unavailing. We in- 

 tended to have spent the day here, but, not being able 

 to obtain water, were obliged to proceed at once to the 



