SEARCH. FOR WATER. 
101 
tastuict. No sooner is the stable opened, than the horses 
and mules, especially the latter (for the penetration of these 
animals exceeds the intelligence of the horses), rush into 
the savannahs. With upraised tails and heads thrown back 
they run against the wind, stopping from time to time as 
'f exploring space ; they follow less the impressions of sight 
than of smell ; and at length announce, by prolonged neigh- 
'^gs, that there is water in the direction of their course. 
All these movements are executed more promptly, and with 
Readier success, by horses born in the Llanos, and which 
have long enjoyed their liberty, than by those that come 
h'om the coast, and descend from domestic horses. In 
animals, for the most part, as in man, the quickness of the 
senses is diminished by long subjection, and by the habits 
that arise from a fixed abode and the progress of culti- 
vation. 
W e followed our mules in search of one of those pools, 
whence the muddy water had been drawn, that so ill 
fiuenched our thirst. We were covered with dust, ana 
anned by the sandy wind, which burns the skin even more 
nan the rays of the sun. We longed impatiently to take 
a bath, but we found only a great pool of feculent water, 
Surrounded with palm-trees. The water was turbid, though, 
? °ur great astonishment, a little cooler than the air. 
Accustomed during our long journey to bathe whenever we 
ad an opportunity, often several times in one day, we 
fastened to plunge into the pool. We had scarcely begun 
1° e ’’joy the coolness of the bath, when a noise which” we 
? ap u on the opposite bank, made us leave the water preci- 
P tately. It was an alligator plunging into the mud. 
We were only at the distance of a quarter of a league 
^ le farm, yet we continued walking more than an hour 
tak ° Ut reacllin ? ft. We perceived too late that we had 
da eu , a "'rong direction. Having left it at the decline of 
before the stars were visible, we bad gone forward into 
i e Pluin at hazard. We were, as usual, provided with 
compass, and it might have been easy for us to steer our 
Cj, r&e from the position of Canopus and the Southern 
leavi 8 ’ fortunately we were uncertain whether, on 
W r (i ^ farm, we bad gone towards the east or the south, 
attempted to return to the spot where we bad bathed, 
