52 
WATER HIDDEN. 
Chap. II. 
One of the Bangwaketze chiefs, more wily than the rest, sent false 
guides to lead them on a track where, for hundreds of miles, not 
a drop of water could be found, and they perished in consequence. 
Many Bakwains perished too. Their old men who could have 
told us ancient stories perished in these flights. An intelligent 
Mokwain related to me how the Bushmen effectually baulked a 
party of his tribe which lighted on their village in a state of 
burning thirst. Believing, as he said, that nothing human could 
subsist without water, they demanded some, but were coolly told 
by these Bushmen that they had none, and never drank any. 
Expecting to And them out, they resolved to watch them night 
and day. They persevered for some days, thinking that at last 
the water must come forth ; but noBvithstanding their watchful¬ 
ness, kept alive by most tormenting thirst, the Bakwains were 
compelled to exclaim, “ Yak! yak! these are not men; let us 
go.” Probably the Bushmen had been subsisting on a store 
hidden under ground, winch had eluded the vigilance of their 
visitors. 
