330 
DISTRESS OCCASIONED BY 
trace the natives’ roadway further, since it always 
appeared to stop at rocky holes where there was no 
water now. Keeping, therefore, the high ground, 
we travelled near the top of the cliffs, bounding the 
sandy valley, but here again a new obstacle impeded 
our progress. The country, which had heretofore 
been tolerably open was now become very scrubby, 
and we found it almost impossible either to keep a 
straight course, or to make any progress through it 
in the dark. Still we kept perseveringly onwards, 
leading our horses and forcing our way through in 
the best way we could. It was, however, all in 
vain ; we made so little headway, and were so com- 
pletely exhausting the little strength we had left, 
that I felt compelled to desist. The poor boy was 
quite worn out, and could scarcely move. I was 
myself but little better, and we were both suffering 
from a parching thirst ; under such obstacles labour 
and perseverance were but thrown away, and I 
determined to await the day -light. After tying up 
the horses the boy lay down, and was soon asleep, 
happy in his ignorance of the dangers which 
threatened him. I lay down, too, but not to sleep ; 
my own distresses were lost in the apprehensions 
which I entertained for those who were behind. We 
were now about one hundred and twenty- eight miles 
from the last water ; we had been four whole days 
and nights without a drop for our horses, and 
almost without food also, (for parched as they were 
they could not feed upon the dry and withered 
