CHAP. IV.] 
WANT OF WATER. 
151 
greatest suffering from sheer idleness in neglecting 
a supply. 
They had in this instance persuaded themselves that 
the river we had just crossed would not be dry. 
Several of them had been employed in this country 
formerly, and because they had at one time found 
water in the sandy bed, they had concluded that it 
existed still. Accordingly they now wished to send 
parties to seek for water; this would entail a further 
delay, at a time when every minute was precious, as 
our fate depended upon reaching and passing through 
Ellyria before the arrival of the Turks. I was very 
anxious, and determined not to allow a moment’s hesi¬ 
tation ; I therefore insisted upon an immediate advance, 
and resolved to march without stopping throughout 
the night. The Latooka guides explained by signs 
that if we marched all night we should arrive at water 
on the following morning. This satisfied the men ; 
and we started. For some miles we passed through 
a magnificent forest of large trees : the path being 
remarkably good, the march looked propitious—this 
good fortune however was doomed to change. We 
shortly entered upon thick thorny jungles; the path was 
so overgrown that the camels could scarcely pass under 
the overhanging branches, and the leather bags of pro¬ 
visions piled upon their backs were soon ripped by the 
