344 
COOL WtlNDS — PARROTS, 
to the north-east ; which struck me as being some- 
what singular, especially when taken in conjunction 
with the fact that on one or two occasions, when the 
wind was from the north-east, it was comparatively 
cool, and so unlike any of those scorching blasts we 
had experienced from the same quarter when on the 
western side of the Great Bight. There was another 
thing connected with my present position which 
equally surprised me, and was quite as inexplicable : 
whilst engaged one morning rambling about the en- 
campment as far as I could venture away, I met with 
several flights of a very large description of parrot, 
quite unknown to me, coming apparently from the 
north-east, and settling among the shrubs and bushes 
around. They had evidently come to eat the fruit 
growing behind the sand-hills, but being scared by 
my following them about, to try and shoot one, they 
took wing and went off again in the direction they 
had come from. 
Several days had now elapsed since the departure 
of the overseer with the horses, and as the time for 
their return drew nigh I became anxious and rest- 
less. The little stock of water left me was quite ex- 
hausted. It had originally been very limited, but 
was reduced still further by the necessity I was 
under of keeping it in a wooden keg, where it 
evaporated, and once or twice by my spilling some. 
At last, on the 25th, I was gratified by seeing my 
party approach. They had successfully accomplished 
their mission, and brought a good supply of water 
