1812. WATER INDICATED BY PLANTS.— THE DIGGING-STICK. 29 
indication of fresh water, and, if attended to, will often be of service 
in pointing out a spring at a distance, which might otherwise be 
passed unnoticed. In cases where a traveller may be in want of 
water while traversing the arid regions in the interior of Southern 
Africa, he may sometimes be relieved from his distress by ascending 
the nearest eminence, and thence carefully examining the country 
with his telescope ; when he may chance fortunately to discover 
some clump of reeds, to which he may direct his steps, with the 
greatest probability of finding sufficient for quenching his thirst. 
Some species of trees, easily distinguishable from afar, are also pecu- 
liar to moist situations *, and are therefore equally useful as guides 
to a spring or rivulet. These facts are well worth an African 
traveller's attention ; and a little observation will bring to his know- 
ledge many others of the same kind. 
We immediately unpacked the oxen, and turned them loose to 
graze in some meadows of excellent grass. After making our break- 
fast from the ostrich-eggs, my men found employment enough in 
drying our clothes and baggage, which were thoroughly soaked with 
yesterday's rain. Philip entered upon his new office of " washer- 
woman," nor was Speelman, or Uncle Hans, or Old Cobus, at all 
surpassed by him in versatility of talents : and I believe that, had 
there been amongst them a missionary of a certain class, it would not 
have hurt his conscience to assert that we carried on " eighteen dif- 
ferent trades." 
We were visited by two natives, whose kraal, they said, was at 
some distance eastward ; and who being out in search of wild roots, 
happened to observe our track, and had discovered us by following- 
it. One of them wore on the side of his head, as an ornament, and 
tied close to the hair, a circular plate of shining brass three inches 
indiam eter. The other carried, what my Hottentots called a graaf- 
stok (a digging-stick), to which there was affixed a heavy stone to 
increase its force in pecking up bulbous roots. The stone, which was 
* Such as the Karree-wood {Rhus viminale), the BufFalo-thorn {Zizyphus huhalinus\ 
the Willow [Salix Gariepina) and the Karro-thorn {Acacia Capensis). 
