June.] approach TO TURREEHEY. 97 
strong-, coarse straw, regularly thatched, the 
ends of the straw pointing downwards, so that 
no rain could possibly enter. It had eight holes 
in the bottom for admitting the birds ; these did 
not lead to one general chamber in the middle, 
but each led to a distinct apartment which had 
no communication with the others. They were 
all lined with the soft downy heads of a parti- 
cular species of grass well suited for the purpose. 
On dividing the nest across, the large mass above 
was found to be a solid body of straw, designed 
probably to prevent the admission of serpents or 
other noxious animals. 
Descending into the valley we found a pool 
of well-tasted, though muddy water, of which 
the oxen drank with great avidity, not having- 
tasted any for twenty-four hours. We then 
turned up a narrow pass between some hills on 
the left, the ascent to which being steep and 
covered with deep sand, it was no easy matter 
for the oxen to drag up the waggons. At length, 
on reaching the summit, the town of Turreehey 
was seen standing in the most sequestered situa- 
tion imaginable, and closely wedged in by moun- 
tains on all sides. The place was not large, but 
built in the form of other Bootshuana towns. 
Young and old soon began to look out at different 
points. The former, though evidently alarmed, 
VOL. II. H 
