June.] MODE OF PROCURING WATER. 
89 
P.M., when we arrived opposite to a Coranna 
kraal, and found a well nineteen feet deep, with 
water at the bottom ; here we witnessed a novel 
operation. The well was dug through a chalk 
rock, one man was standing in the water at the 
bottom of the well, another stood on the almost 
perpendicular sides, about six feet above him, his 
feet resting in holes cut out of the rock, and 
about six feet above him stood a third man. 
Looking down into the well, the three men almost 
appeared as if standing on each other's shoulders. 
The lowest man filled a large wooden dish with 
water which he handed to the man above him, 
and he to the other, who emptied it into a little 
pool made near the mouth of the well, to which 
the oxen had access, after which the dish was 
returned to the man at the bottom. The quick- 
ness with which it went down and returned was 
surprising, perhaps three times in a minute. Not- 
withstanding they thus employed great part of 
the day, they cannot afford a full draught to each 
ox, once in twenty-four hours. They admit four 
oxen at a time to drink from the little pool ; the 
first time the ox lifts his head from the water he 
is considered as having got a sufficient quantity, 
and is not permitted to put it down again, but is 
instantly driven away with sticks. About twenty 
oxen are brought near the well at a time, where 
they irnpltfil6Aftly Wait to take their turn; when 
these have df?ink, they walk off to make room for 
