OCT.] 
JOURNEY IN THE COLONY. 
469 
end of which was a fan composed of white ostrich 
feathers, for driving away the flies from those who 
were at table. 
At six P.M. we took leave of the boor, and went 
forward. The way lying over deep sand, we were 
obliged to walk. A fog from the westward came over 
the country, and so thick that at one o'clock in the 
morning we began to doubt whether we were travel- 
ling the right way, wherefore, lest we should go farther 
astray, we halted for the night without reaching water. 
12th. At eight in the morning we proceeded, and 
before ten, came to a small pool of water, the colour 
and thickness of milk, and full of insects, at the side of 
which we halted. Thermometer at noon, 76, 
At four P.M. we departed, and did not reach Great 
Fountain till nine, though only about seven miles 
distant, for we had deep sand all the way ; so much so, 
that though we had fourteen oxen to each waggon, they 
had to rest every few hundred yards ; several of them, 
worn out with fatigue, lay down, and with great 
difficulty were raised up to try it again. The way was 
beautifully hned with bushes in flower, five and six 
feet high. I walked the whole stage, and like the poor 
oxen was greatly fatigued. We happily found good 
grass and water where we halted, but so tired were 
our oxen, that they tasted neither till next morning, 
but immediately when they were unyoked, lay down to 
.rest their weary limbs. 
