38 
JOURNEY ACROSS THE 
[1820. 
Forty-three ostriches were seen from the wag- 
gons, this day, at the same time. 
Almost every ten minutes we were visited by 
strong gusts of wind, one of which tore the tent 
from several of its fixtures, another nearly over- 
turned my waggon. They seldom last above a 
minute, when they are succeeded by a dead calm, 
and the air seems improved by their visits : they 
generally come from the N. E. 
The Bushmen were greatly entertained by 
my compass. A Hottentot, without being de- 
sired, told them that it would always direct me 
to the way which led to my home. They at- 
tempted, by turning the compass, to force the 
needle to point another way than towards the 
north, but not being able to effect it, they held 
up both hands, laughed heartily, and looked upon 
me as a fortunate person, in possessing a thing 
that would always point to my home. Ther. 90. 
We went forward at five p. m. and travelled till 
one o'clock the next morning without discover- 
ing water, then halted till six, when we pro- 
ceeded in quest of it. At seven a.m. we ob- 
served some smoke on a hill to the left, which 
we hoped was a signal made by Bushmen for 
water, and it turned out to be so. Two of the 
Bushmen soon joined us. On visiting their kraal, 
three of the women danced in a savage manner, 
