THE GUIDE 8H0B0. 
46 
called Matlomagan-yana, or the “Links,” is quite a chain 
of these never-failing springs. As they occasionally be- 
come full in seasons when no rain falls, an d rescmblo some- 
what, in this respect tho rivers we have already mentioned, 
it is probable they receive somo water by percolation from 
the river-system in the country beyond. Among those 
links wo found many families of Bushmen; and, unlike 
those on tho plains of tho Kalahari, who are generally of 
short stature and light yellow color, those woro tall, strap- 
ping follows, of dark complexion. Heat alone does not 
produce blackness of skin, but heat with moisture seems 
to insure tho deepest hue. 
One ol these Bushmen, named Shobo, consented to be our 
guide over the waste between these springs and the country 
ol Sebituarie. Shobo gave us no hope of water in less than 
a month. Providentially, however, we came sooner than 
we expected to some supplies of rain-water in a chain of 
pools. It is impossible to convey an idea of the dreary 
scene on wuieh we entered after leaving this spot : the only 
vegetation was a low scrub in deep sand; not a bird or in- 
sect enlivened tho landscape. It was, without exception, 
the most uninviting prospect I ever beheld ; and, to make 
matters worse, our guide Shobo wandered on the second 
day. We coaxed him on at night, but he weut to all point* 
of tho compass on the trails of elephants which had been 
here in the rainy season, and then would sit down in the 
path, and in his broken Siehuana say, “.No water, all 
country only; Shobo sleeps; he breaks down; country 
only,” and then coolly curl himself up and go to sleep- 
The oxen were tom bly fatigued and thirsty; and, on the 
morning of tho fourth day, Shobo, after professing ig*»o- 
ranee of overy thing, vanished altogether. We went on in 
the direction in which we last saw him, and about eleve» 
s' clock began to see birds; then the trail of a rhinoceros 
A.t this we anyoked tho oxen, and they, apparently know 
mg the sign, rushed along to find the water in the rive* 
Mahabe, which comes from the Tamunak’le, and lay to the 
