rses, and proceeded at a more leisurely pace, so that it was not till
late in the evening that they discovered the waggons at some distance,
having passed the dry bed of the Salt River ahead of them. During the
whole day their horses had had neither food nor water, and the animals
were much exhausted when they came up with the waggons. The oxen also
were fatigued with so long a journey, having made nearly fifty miles
since they started the evening before.

The country was now stony and sterile; a little vegetation was to be
found here and there, but not sufficient to meet the wants of the
animals, and water there was none. During the day but little game had
been seen,--a few zebras and ostriches only; all other varieties had
disappeared. There was of course no wood to light the fires round the
encampment: a sufficiency for cooking their victuals had been thrown
into the waggons, and two sheep were killed to supply a supper for so
numerous a party. But the absence of game also denoted the absence of
lions, and they were not disturbed during the night. In the morning the
Griquas parted company with them, on the plea that their oxen and horses
were in too poor a condition to pass over the desert, and that they must
make a direct course for the Vaal River and return by its banks.

Our travellers gave them a good supply of ammunition, the only thing
that they wished-for, and the Griquas, yoking their oxen to the crazy
old waggon, set off in a westerly direction.

The route of the caravan was now directed more to the south-west, and
they passed over an uninterrupted plain strewed with small
land-tortoises, and covered with a profusion of the gayest flowers.
About noon, after a sultry journey of nine hours, they fortunately
arrived at a bog, in which they found a pool of most fetid water, which
nothing but necessity could have compelled either them or the exhausted
animals to drink. Near this pool in the desert they found several wild
animals, and they obtained three gnoos for a supply of provision; the
little wood that they had in the waggon for fuel was all used up in
cooking their supper.

A heavy dew fell during the night, and in the morning, before the sun
rose, they were enveloped in a thick fog. As the fog dispersed, they
perceived herds of quaggas in all directions, but at a great distance.
They again yoked the oxen and proceeded on their journey; the country
was now covered with herbage and flowers of every