8 TRAVELS IN 
planters make ufe of for grinding their corn* 
The leaving this domeftic impleiirent indi- 
cated an intention of returning to this fettle- 
ment ; which was confirmed by two fmall 
fields near the cabin regularly fown witli 
wheat and barley. But what fignified to me, 
on the prefent occafion, the appearance of a 
fpeedy return ? It was prefent afTiflance that I 
wanted, not the hope of what might occur. 
Yet in the midft of thefe difappointments I 
found one fource of comfort : this was a fpring, 
which, though brackifh, as all we had met 
with for fome tim.e had been, was a very agree- 
able difcovery, and affuaged for the moment 
our burning thirft. 
From thefe indications I could not doubt, 
but the Hottentot horde, or the proprietor of 
thefe huts, had retired with their cattle into the 
paffes and valleys of the neighbouring moun- 
tain ; and I purpofed to feek them there. But 
as It w^as too late to continue our fearch imme- 
diately, we deferred it to the next day, and 
made preparation for paffing the night in the 
cabin in which was the mill. Our fires, for 
want of wood, were made with dry cow-dun^:, 
of which we found abundance ; and I took 
care 
