SEPT.] NAMACQUA LAND. 
447 
Quick fountain, which consists of two pools of water. 
They all rushed into the pools, and the sheep and 
dogs, who reached the water nearl}^ at the same time, 
pushed under the bellies of the oxen, and all drank 
together, at least as many as the pools could hold : 
Such as could not gain admission ran with violence 
against those who were standing in the water, by which 
they obtained as much room as permitted their mouths 
to reach it. Several went away twice, as if satisfied, 
but soon returned to drink more. It was extremely 
difficult to detain the oxen that were yoked in the 
waggons till their yokes were taken off. As they got 
free, every one ran towards the water, without waiting 
for his fellow. None of them had tasted water for 
thirty-eight hours, perhaps some of them for several 
hours longer, and had dragged waggons through deep 
sand for about ninety miles. It was remarkable, that 
not one ox perished in the desert, for which we met to 
give thanks to Him to whom it was due. Quick 
Fountain proceeds from the bottom of a mountain 
composed of one solid rock. Travelled S.W. by W, 
We intended to have left Quick Fountain, in con- 
sequence of the great scarcity of grass, at noon ; but 
the oxen had strayed in search of grass, and could not 
be found : Bushmen being in the neighbourhood, we 
were anxious respecting their safety. I was amused 
by seeing the Hottentots shoeing an ox, that walked 
lame in consequence of his hoofs being injured by the 
sharp stones. He lay, with his legs tied togetlier, on the 
ground, while they fastened shoes of skin over the hoofs. 
