July.] DIFFICULTY OF OBTAINING WATER. 129 
are never visited by violent gales or gusts of 
wind. He confessed that they knew nothing 
about the origin of man, nor of his possessing a 
soul, neither did he know any thing about God. 
He added that he was almost worn out, and now 
about to leave the world, wherefore he did not 
know whether teachers coming among them 
would be good or evil, nor did his son ;— but he 
stated no objections to their coming. 
Our poor oxen not having had any water the 
preceding evening, we expected that the offer of 
some tobacco would procure it for them in the 
morning, but the people would not supply their 
wants on any consideration. Of course we could 
not remain longer with them. The oxen had 
strayed during the night, but we collected them 
all, and having yoked them to the waggons, de- 
parted at noon. We halted at the wells, as we 
passed, to try once more to obtain a little water 
for the thirsty animals, before they proceeded 
over the desert ; but though they had given us a 
sheep and plenty of milk, yet all our offers and 
earnest entreaties could only obtain a little for 
four or five sheep, and this at the entreaty of 
Munameets. They told us if we set off im- 
mediately, and continued to go forward over the 
desert, we should reach water the next morning, 
which assurance gave us but little comfort. In 
this part of the world the introduction of simple 
VOL. II. K 
