238 MISUNDERSTAND THEIR SIGNS. 
obliged to keep a watch upon them during the 
whole night, and they did the same upon us — but 
at a much less individual inconvenience from their 
number ; they appeared to take the duty in turn — 
two always being upon guard at once. 
December 1. — After giving the natives some water, 
and taking breakfast ourselves, we moved on in the 
direction they wished us to go, followed by the 
whole party ; at two miles they brought us to the 
sea over a dreadful heavy road, but upon then ask- 
ing them where the water was, they now told us to 
our horror, that there was “ mukka gaip-pe,” or, no 
water. The truth was now evident, we had mutually 
misunderstood one another; they seeing strangers 
suddenly appear, had taken it for granted they came 
from the sea, and pointed there, whilst we, intent 
only upon procuring water, had fancied they had 
told us we should find it where they pointed ; upon 
reaching the coast both were disappointed — they at 
not seeing a ship, and we at not finding water. 
It was now a difficult matter to decide what to do : 
our horses were greatly jaded, owing to the hilly 
and sandy character of the country ; our water was 
reduced to a low ebb in the casks, for relying upon 
the natives guiding us to more, we had used it im- 
providently ; whilst the very least distance we could 
be away from the water, at the sand-drifts, was 
twenty-five miles ; if we went back we lost all our 
previous labour, and could not do so without leav- 
ing the dray behind, and if we went forward, it was 
