CHOICE OF ROUTES. 
311 
drop of water from an extraordinary natural well, 
some thirty-five feet down to the water. Since leaving 
Letloclie, we have got water at Nkowani and Mahac- 
can, a Maccalacas post, under Sicomo, Kasir chief, and 
at Ramaqua—green, slimy stuff. There was, however, 
delicious water at Massouey, a fountain pure as crystal, 
where we first saw the Great Salt-pan, and a magni¬ 
ficent piece of scenery exactly resembling the sea 
coast; it was difficult to imagine oneself so far in the 
interior. We measured a tree called Cream of Tartar, 
sixty-one feet round the bole ; but there are many 
very much larger. 
A troop of half-starved Maccalacas followed us, 
and we shot three giraffes for them. Six of them 
volunteered to go on to show us the waters, but 
they lost themselves yesterday, and took us in a 
regular circle ; we at length got to some brackish salt 
stuff, near the Great Salt-pan. We left the Great 
Lake road some days ago, and have carved out a 
route for ourselves. The country is very dry here ; 
scrubby mapani trees, and a great scarcity of game, 
which I attribute to the want of water, and dryness 
of the grass. We came to some new burns the other 
day, where the grass was green and sweet, and found 
a great variety of game, but, after missing some 
gemsbok, we contented ourselves with bringing two 
elands to the wagons. No sign as yet of elephants ; 
they are a weary way off, to be sure, but I hope this 
week to make the acquaintance of one or two. I 
am sorry to say the people about Mangwatos were 
