4 TRAVELS IN 
For this purpofe it was requifite to leave my 
waggon, my equipage, and mv cattle;, at the 
entrance of the defile. This I did ; appoint- 
ing at the fame time four perfons as a guard, 
whom I direded to dig and enlarge the hole, 
that they might procure a fufficiency of water 
for'themfelves ; and, if pofiible, for the few 
beafts I had left. 
The number of thefe was confiderably di- 
mlnhhed. From tlie moment I entered the 
defert, and ceafed to find game for the fupport 
of my people, I found my felf obliged to kill all 
my ilieep one after another. Since the death 
of Ingiand, I had alfo loft on the road two 
other oxen. All my cows had died. Of four 
horfes two only remained, reduced to TkIu and 
bone, in the m.oft deplorable ftate, and abfo- 
lutely incapable of the leaft fervice. My goats 
only were exempt from fliaring in our extreme 
diftrefs. They had even conftantly afforded 
us milk ; and to this refource we were indebted 
for our prefervatlon, as it had hitherto enabled 
me to furnifh my people daily with a little, and 
even to bcftow a portion on my dogs, who, for 
want of water, might otherwife foon have gone 
mad. 
I took 
