290 
RETURN TO DEPOT. 
nearly dark when we arrived at the plain under the 
sand-hills, and very late before we had watered the 
horses and brought them back to the grass. 
January 16. — After breakfast, in returning from 
the water, we had a feast upon some berries, grow- 
ing on the briary bushes behind the sand-hills ; they 
were similar to those the natives had offered to us, 
at the head of the Bight, on the 7th, were very 
abundant, and just becoming ripe. About eight 
o’clock we set off for the depot, and arrived there at 
two, glad to reach our temporary home once more, 
after eighteen days absence, and heartily welcomed by 
Mr. Scott, who complained bitterly of having been left 
alone so long. Under the circumstances of the case, 
however, it had been quite unavoidable. Upon 
tasting the water at the well, I found, that from so 
much having been taken out, it had now become so 
very brackish, that it was scarcely usable, and I de- 
cided upon returning again to Fowler’s Bay, where 
the water was good, as soon as the overseer came 
back. 
January 17. — Spent the day in writing, and in 
meditating upon my future plans and prospects. 
I had now been forty -five miles beyond the head of 
the Great Bight, that point to which I had looked 
with interest and hope ; now, I had ascertained that 
no improvement took place there, in the appearance 
or character of the country, but, if any thing, that it 
became less inviting, and more arid. The account 
of the natives fully satisfied me that there was no 
