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MEANS OF 
neither rains nor dews, their experience at once 
points out to them the lowest levels where the gum- 
scrub grows, and where they are sure of getting 
water from its roots, with the least possible amount 
of labour that the method admits of, and with the 
surest prospect of success.* 
Another very important circumstance in favour 
of the native, and one which results in a measure 
from some of the above-mentioned considerations, is 
the fact, that the native sets to work to procure his 
supply calmly and collectedly, and before he re- 
quires it ; whilst the European, even if acquainted 
with the method of obtaining it, would not resort 
to it until the last extremity, when the body was 
fatigued and heated by previous exertion, the mouth 
dry and parched by thirst, and the mind excited 
and anxious from apprehension. The natural con- 
sequence of such a very different combination of cir- 
cumstances would be, that the native would obtain 
an abundant and satisfying supply, whilst the Euro- 
pean would never be able to procure a sufficiency to 
appease his thirst, but would rather fatigue and 
exhaust his strength the more, from his want of 
skill and experience, and from his body and mind 
being both in an unfit state for this particular kind 
of exertion. Such at least, on many various occa- 
sions, I have found to be the case both with myself, 
and with natives with me who have not been ac- 
customed to the scrub, or to this method of pro- 
curing water. The difficulty and labour of finding 
* Vide vol. i. p. 349. 
