SOUTHERN AFRICA. 
333 
had told us was the Karree fonteyn. After fearching about for 
fome time in the dark, a kind of fwamp was difcovered, con- 
taining, in places, a little muddy and fetid water. Bad as it 
was, both Hottentots and cattle fwallowed it with great avidity. 
For our own part, a bottle of chalybeate, and another of hepatic 
water, that had been taken and kept for experiment, were found 
very acceptable and refrefhing. 
On the fifteenth, after travelling about five hours, and after 
having been four days without frefh water, we came to a clear 
limpid ftream called the Keiir fonteyn^ or Choice Spring ; and 
never certainly did any ftream of water appear to be more truly 
valuable and delightful. It was with the greateft difficulty that 
both cattle and Hottentots, who are equally void with the for- 
mer of thought or refledion, were reftrained from drinking to 
excefs after fo long an abftlnence. 
The great fcarcity of water on thofe plains of Africa, known 
by the name of Karroo, rendering it fometimes hazardous, and 
almoft always haraffing, for cattle to pafs, fhould feem to point 
out the camel or the dromedary as the kind of animals beft 
fuited for the tranfport of goods and paffengers in the colony 
of the Cape. The camel is more patient of hunger than moft 
quadrupeds, and is able to endure thirft for a much longer fpace 
of time ; and the harfh thorny flirubs, or the fucculent plants, 
one or the other of which are to be met with on the moft dreary 
of the deferts, would furnifh for it abundance of food. It will 
carry with eafe half a ton weight, which is more than twice the 
quantity that is ever drawn by an African ox. 
We 
