220 
DIG A WELL. 
diameter at the bore, quite circular, carried straight 
down, and the work beautifully executed. To 
get at the water, the natives placed a long pole 
against one side of the well, ascending and descend- 
ing by it to avoid friction against the sides, which 
would have inevitably sent the sand tumbling in 
upon them. We, however, who were so much 
clumsier in all our movements, could not make use 
of the same expedient, nor indeed, would the size of 
the wells, made by the natives, have enabled us even 
with their assistance, to get out a moderate supply 
for the horses. It became necessary, therefore, to 
open a new well, of much larger dimensions, a task 
of no easy kind in so loose a sand. 
Having put the overseer and men to their arduous 
employment, I ascended the highest of the sand 
hills, and took a set of angles, among which Point 
Fowler bore W. 16° S. and Point Bell, E. 40° S. 
A small lake was visible at W. 40° N. The 
country still looked very cheerless in every direction, 
and no signs of improvement appeared to relieve 
the dreary scene around, or to lead me to hope for 
better country beyond. 
Upon rejoining the well diggers, I found after 
great exertions they had thrown out an immense 
quantity of sand, and made a large and commodious 
well, and were just going to commence watering the 
horses; at this juncture and before a single bucket 
of water could be taken out, the sand slipped, and 
the sides of the well tumbled in, nearly burying 
