FALL IN WITH NATIVES. 237 
sionally in that direction; in none of them, how- 
ever, could I obtain a drop. The country travelled 
over consisted of very heavy sand ridges, covered 
for the most part with low scrub, and as the stage 
was a long one (twenty-two miles), I found upon 
overtaking the dray that the horses were knocked 
up, and a party of fourteen natives surrounding it, 
who were making vehement gesticulations to the 
man not to proceed, and he being only accompanied 
by a single black boy was greatly alarmed, and did 
not know what to do ; indeed, had I not arrived 
opportunely, I have no doubt that he would have 
turned the horses round, and driven back again. 
Upon coming up with the natives, I saw at once 
that none of them had been with us before, but at 
the same time they appeared friendly and well- 
behaved, making signs for us not to proceed, and 
pointing to some sand-drifts at the coast which we 
had passed, implying, as I understood them, that 
there was water there. We were now in an opening 
among the scrub, consisting of small grassy undu- 
lating plains, and at these I determined to halt for 
the night, hoping the natives would remain near 
us, and guide us to water to-morrow. To induce 
them to do this, after giving the horses each two 
buckets of water, I gave two gallons among them 
also, besides some bread. They at once took pos- 
session of an elevation a little above our position, 
and formed their camp for the night. As we were 
so few in number compared to the natives, we were 
