28o TRAVELS IN 
expeded the fame benefit here from flocks of 
moor- game, which I faw pafs me in the air. 
With this hope I followed their flight with 
eager eyes ; for I knew that thefe birds repair 
regularly tivice a day to rhe water to drink and 
wafh themfelves : but conceive the defpair in 
which I was plunged, when, flying at firfl: 
from north to fouth, I faw them return in a 
contrary diredion without flopping ; which 
feemed to be an infallible fign that there was no 
fpringj nor the fmallefl refervoir of water, any 
Vv^here in the neighbourhood. Thefe birds, 
however^ flew at fuch a prodigious height, that 
my fight could not long follow them ; and all I 
could conclude from their paflage was, that they 
were perhaps haflening to quench their thirft 
at the Elephants-River. No rock bird what- 
ever alighted near us ; which doubtlefs indi- 
cated that nature here was in a moft forlorn 
ftate. Moor-fowl, in general, are inaufpiclous 
birds, becaufe, living on feeds and infeds, they 
are to be met with only in dry and fcorched 
diftrids. I recolleded that I had been under 
great alarm, during my firft journey, by the 
circumftance of the numerous coveys of them I 
had feen in croflSng the barren country of 
Karaw, 
