COLLECT DEW. 
361 
made a feast at night. Our last drop of water was 
consumed this evening, and we then all lay down to 
rest, after turning the horses behind the first ridge of 
the coast, as we could find no grass ; and neither the 
overseer nor I were able to watch them, being both 
too much worn out with the labours of the day, and 
our exertions, in searching for water. 
March 30. — Gettingup as soon as the day dawned, 
I found that some of the horses had crossed the 
sand ridge to the beach, and rambled some distance 
backwards. I found, too, that in the dark, we had 
missed a patch of tolerable grass among the scrub, 
not far from our camp. I regretted this the more, 
as during the night a very heavy dew had fallen, 
and the horses might perhaps have fed a little. 
Leaving the overseer to search for those that had 
strayed, I took a sponge, and went to try to collect 
some of the dew which was hanging in spangles 
upon the grass and shrubs ; brushing these with the 
sponge, I squeezed it, when saturated, into a quart 
pot, which, in an hour’s time, I filled with water. 
The native boys were occupied in the same way ; 
and by using a handful of fine grass, instead of a 
sponge, they collected about a quart among them. 
Having taken the water to the camp, and made it 
into tea, we divided it amongst the party, and never 
was a meal more truly relished, although we all ate the 
last morsel of bread we had with us, and none knew 
when we might again enjoy either a drink of water, 
or a mouthful of bread. We had now demonstrated 
