^66 
TRAVELS IN 
our view, who had come to this refervoir ta 
quench their thirft, and who betook them- 
felves to flight the moment they perceived us. 
The cavity indeed contained fome water, an d 
a fufEcient abundance to ferve even my whole 
caravan. But how deteftable was its nature f 
Frequented by all the wild animals of thediftridt, 
who repaired thither to drink, the borders of the 
pond were covered with excrement and filth, 
which the rain continually diluted and carried 
along with it to the bottom of the refervoin 
By the fermentation of thefe putrid and Infec- 
tious fubftances, it had acquired a greenifh cOr 
lour, a naufeous fmell, and the moft abomi- 
nable tafte. So greatj however, was our diftrefs, 
that the difcovery of this difgufting pond was 
confidered by us as a fortunate event. Before 
■ I fufFered my cattle to tafte it, I ordered the 
jars we had emptied the preceding evening to 
be filled ; and to render it as drinkable as I 
could, I filtered it carefully through feveral 
linen cloths ; it was then put on the fire ; 
and afterwards 1 threw into it a few ounces 
of coffee that had been ground. By thefe 
operations it was clarified a little, and the 
tafte it had contracted by the faline and ful- 
Q phurous 
